Rangers Recap: Late Stecher Goal Sinks Rangers in Toronto, 5-4

Back at it on the road, the New York Rangers were north of the border as they took on the Toronto Maple Leafs for an Original Six matchup.

While news broke about an hour before puck drop that the Rangers had signed Luke Glendening to a one-year deal, it would be the same lineup as it had been for the last two games.

First Period

While the Rangers have gotten off to some quick starts this season, it's been a different story on the road. Just a minute and a half into the game, the Rangers got caught in the midst of a change, and Easton Cowan took full advantage. A quick shot was enough to beat Dylan Garand as Toronto made it a 1-0 game early.

The Rangers did a good job bouncing back, all things considered. After a number of icings, a good cycle from the Rangers' top line ended with Vladislav Gavrikov letting a shot go from the point. Mika Zibanejad did a fantastic job of redirecting the shot to get it past Sergei Bobrovsky, tying the game, 1-1.

The game wouldn't stay tied for long. Right after the midway point of the period, a strong zone entry from Zack MacEwen worked the puck down low. Some quick passing set up Teddy Blueger (who is a dream fourth-line center) right in the slot to sneak a quick shot through the legs of Garand. Not a great look for Braden Schneider on this play as Toronto made it a 2-1 game.

They weren't the prettiest goals Garand gave up, but he continued to battle hard as he made some good saves to keep the Rangers in it, including this beauty of a glove save on none other than Auston Matthews.

It wasn't a great period for the Rangers by any means, but to bounce back after that first goal and come out of it only down by one was somewhat encouraging. Shots after the opening 20 were 8-7 in Toronto's favor.

Second Period

The Rangers did a good job of bouncing back once again to start the second. Just two and a half minutes in, a strong drive to the net from Justin Dowling set up a rebound for Oliver Bjorkstrand, who made it a 2-2 game. The assist would go down as Dowling's first NHL point since March 31, 2025.

Shortly after, a combined effort from Garand and Gavrikov saved a goal. The Leafs were on an odd-man rush, and after Garand shut down the shot from Kirill Marchenko, Gavrikov got his stick on the rebound attempt from Morgan Rielly.

About three minutes later, a strong shift from the Rangers' second line gave them their first lead of the night. Pavel Dorofeyev moved the puck from behind Toronto's net to Adam Fox at the point. Fox's shot went through some traffic and deflected off the stick of Tye Kartye to make it a 3-2 game in the Rangers' favor.

Of course, that wouldn't last long, as Brandon Duhaime tied the game up at three shortly after. The Rangers lost an offensive-zone draw, and a neutral-zone turnover resulted in an off-the-rush chance for Duhaime, who picked up his own rebound to tie the game right back up.

As the period went on, the Rangers continued to get chances. Dorofeyev's bad luck continued as he rang a shot off the post, with J.T. Miller finding one of his own soon after.

With about two minutes to go in the second period, Alexis Lafrenière was called for hooking. This would put an end to the Rangers' perfect penalty-kill streak on the season, as Kirill Marchenko poked home a loose puck in the crease to regain Toronto's lead. Certainly one Garand will wish he could have back.

That would do it for the second, as the Rangers trailed by one after 40 minutes of play. Shots heading into the second intermission were 24-16 in Toronto's favor.

Third Period

The Rangers would go back to the penalty kill early in the third as Gavrikov was sent off for interference. The Rangers were successful this time around in keeping Toronto off the board and, nearing the midway point of the period, got a power-play chance of their own. Former friend Jack Roslovic was called for tripping, but once again the power play was unable to convert.

With about five and a half minutes to go, an offensive-zone faceoff win allowed Fox to leave a drop pass for Lafrenière up high. His shot soared through traffic to knot things up, 4-4.

It would be a disappointing finish as Troy Stecher found the back of the net with less than 30 seconds to go. A clean break to the slot from the point and another shot that beat Garand to end the night.

On the one hand, it was a four-point outing from Fox, and the team continued to battle back. On the other, it was a tough night for Garand, and the team had a couple of lapses that didn't help his cause.

Final shots on goal were 35-25 in Toronto's favor. The Rangers will remain in Ontario as they're back at it against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.