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Rangers Find Revenge In Win Over The Toronto Maple Leafs

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The New York Rangers find revenge in another impressive victory, this time over the Atlantic Division’s Toronto Maple Leafs. Two goals from Mika Zibanejad and 31 saves from Igor Shesterkin helped The Blueshirts to a 5-2 win over their Original Six foe. New York and Toronto faced off against one another for the second time in one week. Fans of both clubs have been blessed with another dose of Original Six hockey. Last time out, Toronto controlled the entirety of the contest in a 7-3 triumph. Tonight, a different tale was told.

Peter Laviolette decided to ride the hot hand and back his number one netminder in Shesterkin. Coming off one of his more impressive starts of the year, Shesterkin searched for revenge against Auston Matthews and Toronto’s star-studded offence. With Matthews’ 23 goals and William Nylander’s 40 points, the Rangers defensive core had their hands full.

First Period Takeaway: A Tale Of Two Opening Frames

A week ago, New York conceded four goals in the first twenty minutes alone. In a game where Shesterkin looked defeated, Tuesday started much differently. It was clear that Laviolette made improvements to limit Toronto’s chances by closing the slot. The Leafs found themselves on a few odd-man rushes, but the Blueshirts made countless recoveries with their goaltender on top of his game.

New York started the contest with their fourth line taking the opening draw. The line of Jimmy Vesey, Barclay Goodrow and Tyler Pitlick continue to buzz whenever they are called upon. Although they are not expected to produce goals, their forechecking is remarkable. With New York leading in the shot department 11-5, the depth was testing Martin Jones with everything in their arsenal.

The first 20 minutes proved that New York wanted to test Toronto through their physicality. That previously mentioned fourth line combined for five of the Rangers’ 15 hits. With Toronto only posting six in the first period, New York made their presence physically felt. All that was left for New York was trying to find a way to bury the biscuit. This was one of those games where the first goal, no matter who scored it, would be an important one.

Second Period Takeaway: Open The Floodgates

An important one nevertheless and it would be New York who would end up on the scoresheet first. One of the best sayings in hockey has to be “pucks on net.” It not only is a play, but it is a lifestyle. No matter what, you must always find a way to put the puck on frame.

Blake Wheeler lived up to that saying and threw a chance on the net. The goal went to Mika Zibanejad who earned his tenth of the year. The new dad has turned it around this month. His October was a quiet one to say the least. The top line is slowly coming into fruition as one of the best top lines in the league with Chris Kreider and Blake Wheeler.

One minute and twenty seconds later, Toronto found an equalizer thanks to “Papi” himself. Auston Matthews’ twenty-fourth of the season snuck past Shesterkin to tie it at one. With how top-heavy they are, you just knew that one of these stars was going to find the back of the net.

Both Original Six squads were showcasing their discipline from the get-go. Not until Toronto’s William Lagesson was called for holding the stick just before the midway point of the middle frame.

The second unit were the ones who stepped up thanks to Alexis Lafrenière’s ninth of the year. Another case of simply throwing the puck on the net works out for New York.

Third Period Takeaway: One Perfect Powerplay

New York had a rough start to the third, allowing more and more odd-man rushes. Who else but “Papi” again as Auston Matthews buried his league-leading twenty-fifth goal and second of the game. He is a player that you simply cannot leave uncontested in the offensive zone.

The Blueshirts were exposed by puck-watching Matthews’ second goal. Instead of staying still, Braden Schneider showed off his two-way play, going five-hole on Jones. Schneider, known for having a decent wrist shot, just made a case to be added to the “All-Hands Team” for 23-24. The former first-round pick made it 3-2 for New York.

Discipline was truly the factor towards the end, as Toronto found themselves back in “The Sin Bin.” The opportunity to seal the game was at hand. Luckily, Artemi Panarin thrives under the pressure and notched his team-leading seventeenth of the campaign.

Mika Zibanejad placed the star on top of the metaphoric tree with the empty netter, his second of the game and eleventh of the year. New York and Shesterkin shine once again in a 5-2 victory over the Leafs. Shesterkin and Zibanejad will find the headlines, but Erik Gustafsson‘s three assists should not go unnoticed.

The Magnificent McDavid Heads To Broadway

New York is back in action on Friday when they face off against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. This will be the Rangers’ first game against former Hartford Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch.

Puck drop is set for Friday at 7:30 p.m. EST from The World’s Most Famous Arena.

Main photo by: Nick Turchiaro – USA TODAY Sports

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