A failed third act doomed the Maple Leafs Thursday night in the Big Apple. Toronto lost its sixth straight game, falling to the Rangers 6-2 at Madison Square Garden.
If they could make it there, they could make it anywhere. Well, not really. Mired in a losing streak, taking on an equally disappointing New York Rangers squad, Toronto looked to finally notch a win in the post-Olympic portion of the season. For the first two periods, that seemed like a possibility, but the Leafs fell apart in the final twenty minutes, yielding four goals, en route to another loss.
Toronto hit the right note early, Matias Maccelli scored 13 seconds into the game. William Nylander intercepted a pass below the Rangers’ goal line, swooped around the net and found Maccelli on the doorstep for a tap-in goal.
The Rangers tied the game at the 6:45 mark of the first period. Will Cuylle scored his 14th of the season, deflecting a Branden Schneider point-shot past Joseph Woll to make it 1-1.
Toronto re-took the lead 5:26 into the second period on Easton Cowan’s 8th goal of the season. The rookie rifled a wrist shot from just outside the circle that beat Igor Shesterkin for the 2-1 lead.
Vladislav Gavrikov answered for the Rangers with his 11th on the season, a power play goal at 7:29. Gavrikov snapped home a rebound left after Woll saved a Tyler Radidysh shot.
Despite the tied score, the Leafs, arguably, had the better of the play, outshooting New York 22-13 after two periods. But tired legs could not keep up, and the Rangers took over in the third.
Alexis Lafreniere broke the tie at 5:38. The winger tipped in a Mika Zibanejad shot for the go-ahead goal. Then at 10:27, Jaroslav Chmelar scored his 1st NHL goal on a breakaway. The former 5th round selection, gathered in a Dakota Joshua misplayed puck at the Ranger blue line, drove in on Woll and flipped the puck over the outstretched goaltender to make it 4-2. Zibanejad added his 25th less than a minute later, and Cuylle finished the scoring off with his second of the night, an empty net goal at 17:09 to make the final 6-2.
Next up, Tampa comes to town Saturday night.
