RANGERS VS MAPLE LEAFS GAME DAY PREVIEW 12/22

RANGERS FACE THRIVING MAPLE LEAFS IN TORONTO

New York Rangers (15-13-5) vs Toronto Maple Leafs (23-10-2)

Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON Canada

Tonight 7:00 PM TV: MSG, CBC, NHLN-US

The Rangers come into tonight's contest coming in off a 3-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks 4 days ago at Madison Square Garden. Vladislav Namestnikov had a 3 point  game for New York with a goal and 2 assists, Kevin Hayes and rookie Filip Chytil added a tally each in the win. Alexandar Georgiev earned his 5th win of the season with a 14 save performance over the Ducks as the Rangers dominated Anaheim in the third period, holding Anaheim to one shot on goal in the third period.

The Rangers win ended a three game losing streak for the Blueshirts and earned them their first regulation win since a 4-2 home win over Ottawa on November 26. The Rangers have earned at least one point in 16 of the last 22 games (12-6-4 record), in 19 of the last 28 games (14-9-5 record), and in 20 of the last 30 games (15-10-5 record).

New York was 5-for-5 (8:42) on the penalty, held Anaheim to three shots on goal over the Ducks' five power play opportunities, and registered a shorthanded goal from Kevin Hayes.

Kevin Hayes extended his point streak to five games, and he has recorded 10 points (four goals, six assists) over the five games. Namestnikov has recorded 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in his last 20 games. Chytil has tallied a point in three of the last four games (one goal, two assists) and in nine of the last 16 games (six goals, three assists). Jimmy Vesey has notched an assist/point in four of the last five games (four assists) and in five of the last seven games (one goal, five assists). In addition, he has recorded 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in the last 21 games.

The Rangers look to be going with the same lineup as the Anaheim game with the goaltender to be decided on today with this game in Toronto being another back to back game. Tomorrow the Rangers face division rivals the Philadelphia Flyers. Coach Quinn said yesterday that Henrik Lundqvist and Georgiev will split the matchups but has yet to decide who will start each game.

Toronto comes in with a record of 6-3-2 in their last ten games and having won their last two games against Florida and New Jersey outscoring their opponents 13-3 over the 2 game span. John Tavares leads the Leafs in goals with 23, Mitch Marner leads in points with 47 and in assists with 37.

RANGERS PROBABLE LINEUP vs TORONTO
Forwards:
Chytil-Zibanejad-Zuccarello
Kreider-Hayes-Buchnevich
Vesey-Howden-Namestnikov
Nieves-Andersson-Strome

Defense:
Staal-Pionk
Skjei-DeAngelo
Smith-McQuaid

Goal:
Henrik Lundqvist

Backup:
Ondrej Pavelec

RANGERS TEAM LEADERS

POINTS: Mika Zibanejad 30

GOALS; Chris Kreider 15

ASSISTS: Mika Zibanejad 19


MAPLE LEAFS TEAM LEADERS

POINTS: Mitchell Marner 47

GOALS: John Tavares 23

ASSISTS:  Mitchell Marner 37

This is the first of three meetings between the Rangers and Maple Leafs this season. Toronto swept the Rangers 3-0 last season including an 8-5 outing in the only game played in Toronto on October 7, 2017. The Rangers have not won in Toronto since February 23, 2017 in a 2-1 shootout win.

RANGERS ALL-TIME RECORD vs TORONTO
Overall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230-279-95-7 (562 pts)
Home Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132-115-56-4 (324 pts)
Road Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98-164-39-3 (238 pts)
Goals For. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,765
Goals Against. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,937
Shutouts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36, last – 1/14/2012 (3-0; Biron)
Last Ranger Win at MSG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/15/2015 (4-3)
Last Ranger Win at Toronto. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/23/2017 (2-1, SO)
Last Maple Leaf Win at MSG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/1/2018 (4-0)
Last Maple Leaf Win at Toronto. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10/7/2017 (8-5)

HEAD TO HEAD 2017-2018 (Maple Leafs won series 3-0)
2018-02-01 NYR TOR 0-4 L
2017-12-23 NYR TOR 2-3 L
2017-10-07 NYR @ TOR 5-8 L