Despite a near dominant third period, the Rangers come up short, losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1. You typically don’t want to feel good walking out of a game with no points, however the Rangers played better in last night's loss than they did in some of the games they won. They struggled in the face-off circle which has been a constant struggle for as long as we can remember and as a result, struggled to maintain puck possession from the jump. The Leafs are a good team, one of the hottest in the league with a goalie who’s having a career year in Jack Campbell.
Morgan Reilly got the Leafs on the board early in the first period with a shot from the point through some traffic. Wayne Simmonds did a good job staying strong on the puck to get the pass to Reilly at the point. Less than a minute later, Justin Holl took a cross checking penalty and the Rangers had the chance to get themselves right back in it. The penalty would come and go and the teams would head to the second with only twelve shots between the two, the Rangers actually out shooting the Leafs 7-5.
The penalty tally would even up at two throughout the second period and it was once again Morgan Reilly scoring for the Leafs, this time on the power play. Dryden Hunt, who was originally mistaken for Nils Lundkvist, got his stick caught up in the skates of Jason Spezza, resulting in the power play. The Rangers stayed consistent, getting seven shots on net, however the Leafs turned it up, getting twelve pucks on net throughout the second period.
The third period was all New York as they were hungry to get back in this game. At the three and a half minute mark into the third, it was Dryden Hunt picking up his first goal as a New York Ranger off a great shot from the high slot. The Rangers kept up the pressure and really looked like they were going to tie it up and get back into it. Jack Campbell however, had other plans as he stood tall, stopping a total of 28 New York shots. Time wound down and the Leafs would hold the Rangers off, getting their tenth win in their last eleven.
One of the biggest takeaways and a major bright side for the Rangers is the Lafreniere, Chytil, Gauthier line looked amazing. Julien Gauthier is absolutely playing his best hockey and hit a career high on shots on goal in a single game. It was their line that had the best amount of chances to tie the game up, including a good wrap-around chance for Gauthier. As ridiculous as it may sound, there is such a thing as a “good loss” and I would certainly say this was one of them.
The Rangers are back at it at home Sunday night against the Buffalo Sabres for Hockey Fights Cancer night at the Garden. The Rangers will for sure want to get back on track against their upstate neighbors and get back to winning. If I’m Gallant, I’m starting the Lafrieniere, Chyil, Gauthier line as they were without a doubt the team's best line last night. It’s very encouraging that Julien Gauthier is finding his game right as the Rangers lose one of their wingers for the rest of the season. If he can keep it up and finally become the player we were all expecting him to become, that’s a huge plus for the team.
Chris Feldman
Comments