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The Toronto Maple Leafs were fortunate to play the New York Rangers on an odd occasion last week in a 7-3 victory at Madison Square Garden, when Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin was doing his best Jonathan Bernier imitation and the Rangers blueline resembled a collection of Aki Berg impersonators.
The real Rangers showed up in the rematch with the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday, and as good teams do, they bounced back from an uncharacteristically poor performance, getting an excellent 31-save outing from Shesterkin, a pair of power-play goals, and some bounces in their favor in a 5-2 victory.
New York’s Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere scored in the second period, with Auston Matthews responding with his league-leading 24th and 25th goals, but Braden Schneider’s third-period goal beating Martin Jones, and Artemi Panarin’s power play insurance marker proved to be too much to overcome for Toronto, who suffered their first regulation loss since November 25.
"I thought we were a little slow and cautious in the first period. I thought we adjusted fine to the game, though, in the second and third. When three goals are going off of us and in the net while bouncing around and you don’t get any power plays in the game, you are probably not winning the game.… Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game. “These things happen over the course of 82. I had no issues with our game.
Jones allowed four goals on 36 New York shots, but other than Schneider’s game-winner, every goal deflected off a leg or skate past the Leafs goalie.
Alexis Lafreniere scores on the power play
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) December 20, 2023
the shot goes off Rielly and in pic.twitter.com/EyK7JIbyvT
“When one happens, you’re thinking, ‘Allright.’ When the second happens… The game works in weird ways. That is why you play 82 of these things.… Keefe said.
With the loss, Toronto falls six points in back of Boston for top spot in the Atlantic and are tied with Florida for second place.
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