The New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs face-off at the Garden tonight with the puck drop at 7:30. Both teams have questions and have been linked in trade rumors, but will any of these questions get answered by the time the Leafs leave Broadway?
Kreider’s Status
Chris Kreider has been skating and by all accounts looks really good. According to coach Quinn, he was trying to talk his way into the lineup against Dallas but the Rangers played it cautious. The latest has Kreider as a game time decision. We will learn more from David Quinn at 6 PM today.
Georgiev Trade
Yesterday, I wrote how a deal between the Leafs and Rangers for Georgiev just makes too much sense. Well last night Toronto’s AHL affiliate scratched Jeremy Bracco, a LI native rumored to be part of a deal for Georgiev. This only adds fuel to the fire, especially after Frederik Andersen’s injury. So is a deal in the works? Georgiev is not playing tonight unless he is…for Toronto. The likelihood of a deal before the game that would cause the Rangers to possibly face him is low, but I’d watch the transaction wires after game for sure.
Pre-game Notes:
- All-Time*: 233-281-95-7 (133-116-56-4 at home; 100-165-39-3 on the road) *Note: The first three games between the two franchises were when the Maple Leafs franchise was called the Toronto St. Patricks. The franchise changed its name during the 1926-27 season.
- The Rangers have won nine of their last 15 games against Toronto, dating back to Feb. 10, 2015 (9-6-0 record over the span). New York has also won three of its last four contests against the Maple Leafs (3-1-0 record).
- Artemi Panarin – 12 GP, 4-12-16 – Panarin has recorded a point in 10 of 12 career games against the Maple Leafs, including each of his last five games (one goal, six assists in his last five contests).
- Chris Kreider – 18 GP, 4-12-16 – Kreider has tallied a point in 13 of 18 career games against Toronto and has notched more assists against the Maple Leafs than against any other opponent in his NHL career.
- Ryan Strome – 18 GP, 6-8-14 – Strome tied single-game career-highs with two goals and four points in the last game against the Maple Leafs on Dec. 28, 2019 at Toronto.
Notes courtesy of NYR
