You can’t win them all as Rangers lose 2-1 to Toronto

The New York Rangers dropped a close 2-1 decision to the resurgent Toronto Maple Leafs.  The Blueshirts couldn’t overcome a stifling Maple Leafs’ defense though they came close in a furious third period comeback. Although they lost, it wasn’t anything to be embarrassed about and the Leafs had to be glad the game was over.

Gerard Gallant thought it was a good game and a much better showing than the game they won in overtime the first time in Toronto. Ever the optimist,  Gallant said “Tonight was a pretty even game. The first six minutes we backed up, I thought Toronto took it to us. But after that it was back and forth, an even hockey game…scoring chances were pretty close. I like the way we played.”

He said that if they play like that every night, they will win a lot of games.   There’s no panic when it comes to Gallant.  In watching the game, the Rangers were unable to get much offense going the first two periods and the sense was if they had played the first two periods the way they played in the third, the outcome would have been different.

That kind of attitude must be refreshing for the players.  With no overreaction, they can look at each game and seize on the positive and build on it.  No matter what they’ve done wrong this season, there have been an awful lot of positives.  Remember, despite the loss they are 10-4-3 and have 23 points, fifth most in the NHL.

One area that was an absolute disaster was in the faceoff circle. The Rangers won only nine of 46 draws, a measly 20%.   Ryan Strome won only one of 13 faceoffs and talked about it after the game. “It frustrating when you see those numbers.  You look at the game and it’s 2-1 and they start with the puck 80% of the time, it’s hard to play against a team like that…they have great players who are going to make plays….it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.”

The coach saw it differently.  Gallant downplayed the importance, saying “we were bad, but I don’t think it killed us. It didn’t have an (effect on the)  outcome in the game for me.”

He said that over “the last month, we’re 12th of 13th in the league.  You have one bad night like tonight, you get pissed off. It’s not an issue. ”

Strome is probably more right than Gallant,about the effect on play,  but the coach does have a point. They have been well over 50% in six of the last ten games and this was the worst outing of the season by far. That said, the Rangers have won only 45.6% of their faceoffs.  Only Buffalo is worse in the entire NHL.

Where it really hurt was in the third period when the Rangers were swarming.  After the Rangers scored there were eight faceoffs in the Maple Leafs’ zone and Toronto won seven of them, including six straight wins by John Tavares.  That really hurt the Rangers attempt at a comeback, no matter what Gallant said.

Scoring was limited with both Toronto goals by defenseman Morgan Rielly.  He scored 3:41  minutes into the game on a screened shot from the point that eluded Igor Shesterkin.  In the second period, when the Chris Kreider was unable to clear the puck, the Leafs got it to an open Rielly who was able to walk in and put the shot past Shesterkin.

Dryden Hunt scored his first goal as a Ranger 3:30 into the third period on assists from Kaapo Kakko and Ryan Strome.

The goal turned the game around as on the next shift the Rangers pinned the Leafs in their own zone and had four quality shot attempts.  Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe called a very timely timeout and was able to settle the Maple Leafs down. The Rangers still had the edge in play, but Toronto didn’t run around in their own end.

The game ended with Shesterkin pulled and the Ranger just missing on numerous shot attempts from Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox, Jacob Trouba among others.  It felt like the Rangers just needed a few more minutes and they would have scored.

Gallant was right.  The Rangers played well and almost got a point from a top team on the road.   You can’t win them all.

Here’s a recap of the game.