Blue Line Station
Fansided

New York Rangers vs Toronto Maple Leafs: A rock solid 5-3 win

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 05: The New York Rangers celebrate after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 at Madison Square Garden on February 5, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 05: The New York Rangers celebrate after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 at Madison Square Garden on February 5, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 05: New York Rangers Center Mika Zibanejad (93) takes a shot on goal during the first period of the National Hockey League game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers on February 5, 2020 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 05: New York Rangers Center Mika Zibanejad (93) takes a shot on goal during the first period of the National Hockey League game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers on February 5, 2020 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Notes on the game

  • The two goals in six seconds were not a Rangers record. That record belongs to Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis who scored within four seconds in 2014. The NHL record is two second set by the Montreal Canadiens last season. It was only the fifth time in team history that they have scored twice in six seconds or less.

    • Greg McKegg’s goal was his first since November 6, a span of 33 games.

  • Brendan Smith was a healthy scratch in favor of Phil Di Giuseppe who played 6:23 in 12 shifts.

    • The Rangers were defensive monsters this game.  They outhit the Leafs 29-12, had 21 blocked shots to Toronto’s eight, and had 13 takeaways compared to Toronto’s six.

  • Brendan Lemieux was back to his agitating game, leading the team with six hits.
  • The Rangers were sorely tested in the third period when they took three straight icings in 24 seconds. Lemiieux, Greg McKegg, Brett Howden, Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren were on the ice for a shift of almost two minutes, but they weathered the storm.

    • The Rangers won the season series from Toronto 2-1.  It’s the second straight season they have done that.

    David Quinn wanted the team to focus on even strength play and they scored all of their goals that way, unsuccessful in their two power plays.

    The Rangers ended up outshooting the Maple Leafs 35-30 though the Leafs had 66 shot attempts to the 54 for the Blueshirts.

    The win improved the Rangers’ record against the Atlantic Division to 9-7-2.  They are 19-12-2 against teams in the Eastern Conference.

    The Rangers have 56 points and are nine points behind the Flyers for the final wild card spot, though they have one game in hand.

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