Brief

Auston Matthews hits 700 games with goal, assist as Leafs beat Blue Jackets 6-2

Matthews celebrated his 700th appearance with a goal and an assist while Toronto scored four straight second‑period goals.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 21 Oct 2026 15:28:28 GMT

Auston Matthews marked his 700th NHL game with a goal and an assist as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-2 on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, according to the Associated Press.

What happened

Toronto opened the scoring when Jake Christiansen netted the Blue Jackets’ first goal at 2:38 of the first period. The Leafs responded when Kirill Marchenko tied the game on a power play at 8:16. The second period belonged to Toronto, which scored four consecutive goals. William Nylander struck 46 seconds after the period began, followed by Matthews, who now has 16 goals and 27 points in 21 career games against Columbus. Colton Sissons assisted Nylander, extending his points streak to four games. Defenseman Easton Cowan scored a short‑handed goal to make it 3‑0, and Jack Roslovic added a fifth goal at 12:03, prompting the removal of Columbus goaltender Jet Greaves. In the third period, Charlie Coyle scored for Columbus, but Marshall Rifai capped the night with a goal 3:02 from the end, sealing the 6‑2 win.

What the reports add

The AP report notes that the Blue Jackets have been outscored 15‑3 in the second period over eight games and have lost four of their last five contests. It also records that Anthony Stolarz stopped 33 shots for Toronto, while Cam Talbot made two saves in relief after Greaves was pulled.

What was said

No direct quotations were included in the source article.

How it came about

Matthews’ milestone follows a recent overtime winner against the Nashville Predators on Oct. 7, 2026, and a loss to the Ottawa Senators in the season opener on Oct. 3, 2026, both covered by Felo News.

Key facts

• Auston Matthews recorded a goal and an assist in his 700th NHL game. (winnipegfreepress.com)
• The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-2. (winnipegfreepress.com)
• Toronto scored four straight goals in the second period. (winnipegfreepress.com)
• Anthony Stolarz made 33 saves for Toronto. (winnipegfreepress.com)
• The Blue Jackets have lost four of their last five games. (winnipegfreepress.com)

Sources

• [1] winnipegfreepress.com — originally reported as “Matthews reaches 700 games, scores to help the Maple Leafs beat the Blue Jackets 6-2”