The Leafs looked like the better team for most of the game, but couldn't solve Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins.

This affiliate content is not influenced by our advertising relationships, but AP and Data Skrive might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content.

The Toronto Maple Leafs faced a tough night on multiple fronts, suffering a 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday and seeing key forward Matthew Knies exit the game with an upper-body injury. The injury occurred late in the second period when Knies delivered a hit on Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko but got the worst of it.

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost 5-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday (Jan. 22). Despite dictating the pace for most of the matchup, the Leafs didn’t capitalize on their chances, and some defensive lapses resulted in deflating goals against them.

Auston Matthews has had a ton of success against Columbus in his career, and our Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets predictions expect that to continue tonight.

Matthew Knies appears to have suffered his second injury this season. The Toronto Maple Leafs forward was throwing a check at Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko late in the second period when he fell to the ice awkwardly. this happened at the end of Knies' last shift he left the bench early pic.twitter.com/ttWe3jVggl

Matthew Knies was injured in the second period of Toronto's game Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Knies struggled to get up from the ice after colliding with Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko and did not return to the game. Knies was ruled out with what the Maple Leafs called an upper-body injury.

The NHL schedule on Wednesday features a game between the Toronto Maple Leafs (30-16-2) and the Columbus Blue Jackets (22-18-7), starting at 7:30 PM ET at Scotiabank Arena and broadcast on ESPN+. The Maple Leafs rank second and the Blue Jackets ninth in the Eastern Conference.

Related: Columbus Blue Jackets (51 pts) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (62 pts) Game Preview. Projected Lineup **Lines Subject to Change Prior to gametime. Dmitri Voronkov - Adam Fantill

The Columbus Blue Jackets watched a seven-game points streak come to an end on Monday, and their coach wasn't keen on offering up silver linings.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are coming off a disappointing 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets last night, led by a hat trick from Toronto-raised forward Adam Fantilli.