The Rangers left Toronto with two points after a thrilling 4-2 victory over the Maple Leafs Thursday night, but the status of Ryan McDonagh is in question following a hit to the head that ended his night in the first period.
Just 59 seconds after Toronto tied the game, 2-2, with 2:30 left in the third period, J.T. Miller’s strong forecheck led to a turnover deep in the offensive zone. The winger fed a pass to Mats Zuccarello, who fired the puck through the slot to the waiting stick of Derek Stepan. The center did the rest, snapping his 13th goal into the back of the cage at the 18:29 mark of the third period.
Miller picked up three assists on Thuirsday, while Zuccarello scored a goal and assisted on two others for New York.
Derick Brassard added an empty-net goal with 19.9 seconds remaining to cap the night off for the Blueshirts. The goal was Brassard’s second of the night, and 22nd of the season.
McDonagh, playing in just his second game after missing four contests with a concussion, was blindsided by Leo Komarov late in the first period, leaving the defensemen down on the ice momentarily. Kevin Klein rushed in to McDonagh’s defense, and was given a two-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, while Komarov was given a five-minute major plus a match penalty for a hit to the head.
The Rangers captain stayed on the bench for the final 1:02 of the period, but did not return for the rest of the game due to what the team called precautionary reasons.
With the Rangers on a two-man advantage on the Komarov penalty plus a double-minor to Nick Spaling for high-sticking Zuccarello, Brassard blasted a one-timer off a smooth cross-ice pass from Keith Yandle through Jonathan Bernier to tie the game, 1-1, at 3:56 of the second period.
It was the Rangers’ fifth power play goal in the last four games, and Yandle’s assist extended his assist streak to five games, which is the longest point streak of any Ranger this season.
The Blueshirts took the lead on Zuccarello’s 20th goal of the season at 9:24 of the second. Derek Stepan’s drive to the net was denied, but Zuccarello scooped up the loose puck and went backhand around a sprawling Reimer. It initially appeared that Reimer made a miraculous save with his left pad, but upon further review the puck crossed the line when it struck Bernier’s equipment and New York had its one-goal lead. The goal sets a new career-high for Zuccarello, and also set a new NHL-best for goals in a season by a Norwegian-born player.
Goaltender Antti Raanta, who started in place of Henrik Lundqvist, did not get off to the start he had hoped. Following last week’s overtime loss to the Kings, Raanta said the only luck he had at the moment was bad, and it appeared that misfortune carried over to Thursday’s game.
Just 3:58 into the first period, a floater from the point from Martin Marincin deflected off Dan Girardi and was redirected into the open net by former Ranger P.A. Parenteau to put Toronto up 1-0. The play was reviewed for a possible kicking motion, but was deemed legal.
However Raanta changed his own luck from that point on, as he was spectacular for the remainder of the night, especially in the first period when he kept the game within one goal despite the Rangers being outshot 13-6 after 20 minutes.
Raanta, who finished with 35 saves in earning his first victory since beating the Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden back on November 15, was beaten by Colin Greening during a scramble in his crease as Toronto pulled even at 17:30 of the third.
Ffity-nine seconds later Stepan, Zuccarello, and Miller picked Raanta up and the Rangers had themselves another important two points in the standings.
Just 24 hours after the team’s penalty kill let them down allowing three power play goals against Chicago in a 5-3 home-ice loss, the Rangers were 5-for-5 on the penalty kill, including two kills in the final 20 minutes.
The Rangers are off Friday before returning to practice Saturday. They host the Detroit Red Wings Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.
By Matt Calamia
