Rangers vs Leafs: Rangers Fall to Maple Leafs 5-3 in Regulation
1-0 Leafs
Patrick Marleau (10) - Assists: Morgan Rielly (30)
The Maple Leafs opened this game pretty quickly as they jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 2:58 into regulation time. The goal came as a result of a deflection in front by Patrick Marleau that took a strange skip off of the ice and slipped past Alexsandar Georgiev. This was one of those goals that you couldn’t really prevent, and it was the result of a wacky deflection on net.
1-1 Tie
Neal Pionk (5) - Assists: Jimmy Vesey (10) & Brady Skjei (8)
Despite playing rather well, the Rangers were unable to get on the scoreboard until late in the second period and tied the game up at 1-1. Jimmy Vesey did an excellent job of finding Neal Pionk cutting down from the right point as he entered the zone. After receiving a crispy pass, Pionk unleashed a heavy shot that beat Frederik Andersson over the pad.
2-1 Leafs
Andreas Johnsson (8) - Assists: Mitch Marner (38) & John Tavares (16)
With only two goals scored throughout the first two periods, this game looked like it was going to be filed under the “low scoring” category. However, both teams combined for six third period goals with Andreas Johnsson starting off the scoring barrage. Mitch Marner was able to hop on a rebound off to the right of Georgiev and quickly shoveled the puck on net. The puck wound up hitting Andreas Johnsson before it went in and that gave the Leafs a 2-1 lead.
3-1 Leafs
Morgan Rielly (12) - Assists: Andreas Johnsson (7) & Frederik Gauthier (5)
A little under four minutes later, the Leafs doubled up their lead with Morgan Rielly’s 12th goal of the regular season. After coming away with his first goal, Andreas Johnsson setup Morgan Rielly with a beautiful cross-ice feed that Rielly buried with a quick wrist shot. There was some traffic in front of Alexsandar Georgiev and the puck slipped through an opening under his arm.
3-2 Leafs
Kevin Hayes (10) - Assists: Filip Chytil (7) & Neal Pionk (14)
The Rangers responded almost immediately fueled by a ridiculous move by Filip Chytil to setup Kevin Hayes on the far side of the net. Chytil made a move around the defender with a skillful deke behind his back and back through his legs before putting a shot on net from his knees. That shot generated a rebound right to Kevin Hayes and he slammed the puck past Frederik Anderson to bring the Rangers back within a goal.
4-2 Leafs
Mitch Marner (11) - Assists: John Tavares (17) & Andreas Johnsson (8)
Unfortunately, the Leafs answered back pretty quickly with yet another goal from Mitch Marner off of centering pass from John Tavares. Marner was all over the ice in this game and made a ridiculous forehand to backhand move on Georgiev to put the Leafs up by a pair of goals.
4-3 Leafs
Chris Kreider (16) - Assists: Kevin Hayes (19) & Marc Staal (6)
The Rangers fought back once again a few minutes later after Chris Kreider deflected a long shot by Marc Staal and suddenly made this a game. Kevin Hayes also got a piece of the puck before Kreider touched it, which resulted in a pretty difficult double deflect for Frederik Anderson.
5-3 Leafs
Mitch Marner (12) - Unassisted
With the goaltender pulled and the Rangers searching for the tying goal, Mitch Marner forced the Rangers into turning over the puck at the blue line. Marner was able to break in all alone on the empty net and sealed the 5-3 victory for the Maple Leafs.
Following tonight’s entertaining contest, the Rangers will be right in action tomorrow night as they welcome the Philadelphia Flyers into Madison Square Garden.