Kirill Marchenko was greeted with boos the first time his name was announced in Columbus tonight, as the Maple Leafs forward faces his former team.
Leafslatest shared the reaction from inside the building before puck drop, calling it a big night loading.
“I'm excited. It's interesting,” Marchenko told Sportsnet's Shawn McKenzie ahead of the game.
He also delivered a signed puck to a fan during warmups, according to Mark Masters.
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Columbus fans have every right to boo. He asked out and got his wish, so a cold welcome comes with the territory.
It's like showing up to your old office party after quitting. A few people wave, but most of the room just glares.
Marchenko has 10 points in 10 games with Toronto.
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Here is a clip of his goal as well in the first :
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Columbus fans send Kirill Marchenko a harsh message before Maple Leafs showdown
Adam Fantilli said earlier today it would have been a nightmare keeping a player who didn't want to be there, after Columbus honored the trade request.
Matthew Knies, now with the Blue Jackets, also faces Toronto for the first time and said there will be no friends on the ice.
Knies has 4 points for Columbus, including a game-winner, while Fantilli has 3.
Two of Marchenko's goals have come on the power play, though he sits at -3.
Three of his assists have also come with the man advantage.
He carries a $3,850,000 cap hit with the Leafs.
He also had a hat trick against Buffalo last Thursday.
Toronto is 4-4-2 and playing the back half of a back-to-back.
Columbus is 3-4-0 overall but 3-2-0 at home.
Rick Bowness will want his group to feed off the building early.
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Auston Matthews leads the Leafs with 16 points, and William Nylander has 13.
Jet Greaves sits at .907 for Columbus, while Sergei Bobrovsky is at .902 for Toronto.
Zachary Werenski leads the Columbus blue line with 6 assists.
Does Marchenko answer the boos the way players usually want to, on the scoresheet?
The building made its feelings clear before puck drop. The next 60 minutes decide who gets the last word.
Were Blue Jackets fans right to boo Kirill Marchenko?
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