Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) – Leo Komarov scored the go-ahead goal with
5:34 remaining in the third period to boost the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-4
victory over the New York Rangers.
Richard Panik, Peter Holland, Roman Polak and Phil Kessel also lit the lamp
for the Maple Leafs, who snapped a two-game skid. Jonathan Bernier made 31
saves in the win.
Chris Kreider and Mats Zuccarello each had a goal and an assist for the
Rangers. Rick Nash and Carl Hagelin also scored for New York, which is 1-1-2
in its last four contests. Cam Talbot turned aside 26 shots in defeat.
Jake Gardiner took the puck away along the left boards and skated to the left
circle before firing the puck over to Komarov near the slot. It resulted in
Komarov’s first goal of the season.
Talbot was pulled from the net for an extra attacker with 1 1/2 minutes left,
and Bernier made a pad stop off a scramble in front with about 30 seconds to
go to preserve the winning margin.
The Rangers scored just 53 seconds into the contest. Kevin Klein’s shot from
above the right circle was deflected into the net by Kreider, who was
stationed in front.
The Maple Leafs went on a 5-on-3 power play when Conor Allen (roughing) and
Hagelin (hooking) were sent off the ice 22 seconds apart. Kessel tied the game
at the 8:27 mark when he banged in a cross-crease feed from James van
Riemsdyk.
Josh Leivo was later sent off the ice for goaltender interference, but Toronto
went ahead with a short-handed tally at the 15:11 mark of the opening period.
Komarov picked up a deflected puck at center ice and skated to the bottom
portion of the right circle before directing a pass to Holland, who veered in
front before depositing the disc past Talbot.
Panik made it 3-1 with 61 seconds left in the period, but Zuccarello got the
Rangers back within a goal when his shot from in front went between the legs
of Bernier with 39.9 seconds remaining.
The Rangers capitalized on a turnover to tie the game at 3-3 when Hagelin got
the puck in front and put it past Bernier with 2:16 left in the middle period.
Nash scored on a tip-in at 4:33 of the third before Polak equaled the score
nearly three minutes later.
Game Notes
Rangers center Derek Stepan made his season debut after missing the first 12
contests due to a broken leg … Talbot started this game because the Rangers
will play back-to-back nights. Henrik Lundqvist is slated to start Sunday
night’s home game against Edmonton … The Maple Leafs honored Hockey Hall of
Fame goaltender Johnny Bower, who turned 90 on Saturday … Kessel, who played
in his 600th NHL game, extended his point streak to six contests … Prior to
Saturday, Talbot had posted a 4-0-1 record, along with a 0.60 goals-against
average in five career regular season appearances in Canada.
