Blue Jackets edge Maple Leafs to spoil Woll's home debut, split back-to-back

Joseph Woll waited a long time for his first home start with the Maple Leafs.

The Blue Jackets spoiled the moment Saturday after Toronto inexplicably took its foot off the gas against the NHL's worst team.

"Outworked, outplayed," Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said of his team's second period that saw the Blue Jackets grab a 21-10 shot advantage and score three times.

He then added of the visitors' surge: "Effort, competitiveness."

Keefe pointedly addressed his players, who tied the game early in the third on a power play, during the second intermission.

"They've got to make the decision how important it is," he said. "That's really it."

Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko, with a goal and an assist each, and Sean Kuraly provided the rest of the offence for Columbus (16-33-4), which got 26 saves from Elvis Merzlikins. Johnson added an assist for a two-point night of his own.

WATCH | Johnson lifts Blue Jackets over Maple Leafs:

The importance of a surprising victory for an injury-ravaged roster on national TV wasn't lost on Blue Jackets head coach Brad Larsen.

"I grew up [watching] 'Hockey Night in Canada,"' said the Armstrong, B.C., product. "We had the old antenna. I think we had three channels.

"It sticks with you. It means a lot to you as a Canadian-born guy."

William Nylander, with a goal and an assist, Michael Bunting and Morgan Rielly replied for Toronto (32-14-8). Mitch Marner added two assists.

"We just stopped playing," Nylander said.

Woll made 36 stops for the Leafs in his first appearance of the season.

"Pretty awesome atmosphere to play in," said the 24-year-old. "Special playing in front of our home crowd."

After Rielly tied the game 3-3 on a 4-on-3 man advantage with his second goal of the season early in