First Period:
- Filip Chytil (7) (Power Play) Assists: Kaapo Kakko (5), Alexis Lafreniere (9)
- Michael Bunting (7) Assists: David Kampf (8), Conor Timmins (5)
Second Period:
- Jimmy Vesey (4) Assists: Vincent Trocheck (11), K’Andre Miller (12)
Third Period:
Ad
- Jimmy Vesey (5) (Empty Net) Assists: Jacob Trouba (9), Vincent Trocheck (12)
Three Stars:
- 3: Filip Chytil
- 2: Igor Shesterkin
- 1: Jimmy Vesey
Stats:
Adam Rotter:
- This was a very solid and another encouraging sign for them.
- Toronto had the puck for a lot of this game, but the Rangers defended the big guys on Toronto really well, limited their chances and limited the overall shots that Igor Shesterkin had to face. He made some excellent saves, but he didn’t have to make those excellent saves in addition to barrage of 30-40 shots. It’s a very strong win for the Rangers as they have started to win in different ways.
- There was a total commitment to defending tonight and it was shown no better than Artemi Panarin checking Auston Matthews on what certainly would have been an A+ chance/goal. When Panarin is committing to backchecking and defending everyone else is going to follow.
- Another thing the Rangers are doing better during this streak is not beating themselves. There are fewer turnovers in the neutral zone or at their blue line and when they aren’t shooting themselves in the foot they are in a much better position to win.
- It’s interesting that Jimmy Vesey had another one of those game where he resembles the player he was supposed to be against the Leafs. I thought that when Vesey went to Toronto that they were going to unlock his potential and it didn’t happen. He’s not the player he was supposed to be, but he’s a very effective two-way player and, as he showed tonight, still has his hands and the ability to score big/fancy goals.
- It was nice to see the second PP unit get some actual time tonight and then score. It’s always been understandable why they don’t get as much time, but if the second PP unit can get some run and get some goals then it’s only going to lift the confidence of those players and help them take some more steps.
- The PK was superb. The Leafs have tremendous talent on their PP and the Rangers did a good job of pretty much shutting them down.
- Igor Shesterkin has been great the last few games and he’s definitely back on track and playing like he wants another Vezina.
- It’s five in a row now and they beat two of the top teams in the East, ended their streaks and thrown themselves back into tight playoff race. They look like a completely different team than the one that looked about as low as you can get after those losses to Ottawa and Chicago. They are playing fast, they are playing confident and their best players are leading them.
- Next up is the Flyers on Saturday and Chicago on Sunday. The Pens are on Tuesday and that will be a big game, but the Rangers can’t look past this weekend. These are important points and the Rangers need to make up points in the standing however they can.