Henrik Lundqvist returned to form in win over Leafs – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
TORONTO – Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers got back to their winning ways Thursday night when they beat the Maple Leafs in Toronto 5-2. Lundqvist got his 19th win of the year stopping 23 of 25 shots while Federik Anderson had his hands full, making 36 saves on 40 shots.
Lundqvist was pulled in his last start after letting in an unprecedented seven goals through two periods to the Dallas Stars at MSG. After headlines surrounded the future hall-of-famer the last couple of days with uncertainty and scrutiny, the 34-year old netminder made many key saves early in the first period and throughout the game. His most important coming off of a Auston Matthews power move to the middle when he found himself one-on-one with the rookie phenom, stopping him just 7:55 in the game.
“I think it was a big game for me, a big game for the team to respond in a good way” Lundqvist said. “Sometimes a win means a little bit more….I think after today you enjoy it a little extra after what I’ve been through the last week or so”.
Defenseman Brady Skjei opened up the scoring for New York when he broke down the middle and received a dish from Mats Zuccarello for his second of the year.
The Leafs responded less than four minutes later after solid forechecking led to Mitch Marner finding Tyler Bozak in front to tie the game at one.
Pavel Buchnevich continued his great play since returning from injury to use his body in front to corral a loose puck and slam it home. After suffering injuries throughout the year, the rookie Russian now has 14 points in 14 games and four in his past two.
Another Ranger who has recently caught fire, J.T Miller, gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead when he scored his third in his past four.
Up two goals with a power-play, the Rangers were in good position to close out the second period, until Zach Hyman pick-pocketed defenseman Adam Clendening and went top shelf on Lundqvist for a short-handed goal to bring the Leafs within one.
After losing their past three games in a row, with a combined score of 16-12, the Rangers showed dominance and intelligence around their own net through the first two periods. They were leading in shots 35-18, but only had a 3-2 lead.
Michael Grabner would change that.
After receiving two breakaways prior (in which he drew penalties on each), Grabner finally found the back of the net for a short-handed breakaway goal. The goal tied the Rangers with the Calgary Flames for most short-handed goals in the NHL. It gave the Rangers some breathing room with a two goal lead late in the game that resulted in the Leafs pulling Anderson.
Grabner wasn’t done, scoring on the empty net for his 21st goal of the year to solidify a 5-2 victory.
The Rangers went 0-5 on the power-play while Toronto went 0-3.
The Rangers next game will be Sunday in Detroit at 12:30pm on NBC against Zetterberg and the Red Wings.
The Maple Leafs host Derek Brassard and the Senators on Saturday at 7pm.
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