RANGERS VS MAPLE LEAFS POST GAME RECAP 2/18

Rangers Beat Leafs, Lose McDonagh

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. The winger fed a pass to Mats Zuccarello, who fired a pass 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.
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.
McDonagh stayed on the bench for the final 1:02 of the period but did not return for the second period for 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, Derick 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 Brassard's third goal in as many games, which tied a career-high. 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 Mats 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 skate, but upon further review the puck crossed the line 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.
But Raanta's luck changed 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.
The luck changed with 2:30 left in the game, when Raanta made a save at the top of the crease, but could not control the loose puck. Colin Greening was able to poke the loose puck through a pile of players in the blue paint to knot the game, 2-2. He finished with 35 saves for his fifth win of the season.
But just 59 seconds later, it was Stepan who was the hero.
Just 24 hours after the team's penalty kill let them down against Chicago, the Rangers were 5-for-5 on the penalty kill, including two kills in the final 20 minutes.
But the story after the game was the hit and subsequent loss of McDonagh. 
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

 FINAL STATS

 
NY RANGERS 4 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 2
SOG: NYR 20 TOR 37
NYR Raanta 35 SV TOR Reimer 16 SV
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
03:58    TOR    Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau (15) Wrist shot - ASST: Martin Marincin (2), Viktor Loov (1)     1 - 0 TOR
2nd Period
03:56    NYR    PPG - Derick Brassard (21) Slapshot - ASST: Keith Yandle (29), J.T. Miller (15)     1 - 1 Tie
09:24    NYR    Mats Zuccarello (20) Backhand shot - ASST: Derek Stepan (16), J.T. Miller (16)     2 - 1 NYR
3rd Period
17:30    TOR    Colin Greening (1) Wrist shot - ASST: Brad Boyes (12), Mark Arcobello (1)     2 - 2 Tie
18:29    NYR    Derek Stepan (13) Wrist shot - ASST: Mats Zuccarello (25), J.T. Miller (17)     3 - 2 NYR
19:40    NYR    EN - Derick Brassard (22) Wrist shot - ASST: Mats Zuccarello (26)

PENALTY SUMMARY
1st Period
09:39    NYR    Oscar Lindberg  Tripping  - 2 min against  Colin Greening
18:58    TOR    Leo Komarov served by Rich Clune  Match penalty  - 10 min against  Kevin Klein
18:58    NYR    Kevin Klein  Unsportsmanlike conduct  - 2 min against  Leo Komarov
2nd Period
03:32    TOR    Nick Spaling  Hi-sticking  - 2 min against  Mats Zuccarello
03:32    TOR    Nick Spaling  Hi-sticking  - 2 min against  Mats Zuccarello
11:59    NYR    Chris Kreider  Too many men/ice - bench  - 2 min
17:19    NYR    Oscar Lindberg  Hooking  - 2 min against  Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau
3rd Period
01:38    NYR    Marc Staal  Cross checking  - 2 min against  Peter Holland
06:21    NYR    Keith Yandle  Hooking  - 2 min against  Brad Boyes
3rd Period
01:38    NYR    Marc Staal  Cross checking  - 2 min against  Peter Holland
06:21    NYR    Keith Yandle  Hooking  - 2 min against  Brad Boyes

Team Stats
Category    NYR    TOR
Power Plays    1/3    0/5
Hits    31    26
Faceoff Wins    25    36
Giveaways    6    8
Takeaways    5    8
Blocked Shots    20    10
Penalty Minutes    12    14

NEXT GAME:
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 21 7:00 PM NEW YORK RANGERS VS DETROIT RED WINGS