Rangers vs. Maple Leafs: 3 things to watch for trying to regroup from brutal loss
Hopefully the New York Rangers remember to take their No-Doze so they don’t sleepwalk through another important game down the stretch of this season, when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday at Madison Square Garden.
Or perhaps their latest no-show performance Tuesday in a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames is enough to hold their interest and spur a far better effort against the Maple Leafs.
“It’s all about how we respond. We want to make sure that we come back with a game that we’re proud of,” Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider said after practice Wednesday.
You just never know with these Rangers (33-30-6), who, despite their best (or worst) efforts, are only one point behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference — though Montreal does have two games in hand. Nonetheless, the point is that the Rangers are right in the mix battling for a playoff spot and need a massive bounce-back effort Thursday.
They require that rebound performance because they were manhandled Tuesday in a lifeless outing again the Flames, who were, by far, the hungrier team. Igor Shesterkin did his best to steal two points with 33 saves in a game the Rangers were outshot 35-13. But not even his heroics couldn’t completely cover up his teammates’ brutal and indifferent play.
But you have to turn the page quickly in this League, especially with 13 games remaining in the regular season for the Rangers, and a playoff berth there for the taking.
The Maple Leafs (41-24-3) are no easy mark, though. They’re tied for first in the Atlantic Division with the Florida Panthers, two points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning. So, this is a crucial game for them, as well.
Toronto is coming off a 2-1 home win against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. The eventual winning goal was scored short-handed by Steven Lorentz, with an assist to referee Kelly Sutherland who fell down on an attempted Maple Leafs clear and was hit by the puck, allowing Lorentz to speed in, collect the disc and whiz it past Colorado goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.
The win was the second straight for the Maple Leafs after they lost four of five.
This is the final game of the season series, which is tied 1-1-0 after each team won on the road. Chris Kreider scored twice in a 4-1 Rangers win on Oct. 19, part of their 5-0-1 start that feels like centuries ago. Matthew Knies scored late in the third period to lift the Maple Leafs past the Rangers 3-2 at The Garden on Feb. 28.
Related: Rangers star said what (!) after shameful loss to Flames
3 things to watch for when Rangers host Maple Leafs
1. No comfort at home
Madison Square Garden hasn’t exactly been a safe space for the Rangers. They’ve lost four straight (0-3-1) on home ice, including the first two of this four-game homestand. Since Feb. 7, the Rangers are 2-5-1 at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
This isn’t just a recent problem, either. They are the definition of mediocre at MSG (16-16-3), tied with the Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers for fewest home wins in the Eastern Conference. Only the Vancouver Canucks (15), Utah Hockey Club (13), Chicago Blackhawks (13) and San Jose Sharks (10) have won fewer home games in the NHL this season.
For what’s it’s worth, the Rangers have lost three straight at MSG to the Maple Leafs, last defeating their Original Six rivals on home ice back on Dec. 15, 2022.
2. Mulling moves
The Rangers held an optional morning skate and coach Peter Laviolette wouldn’t say afterward what — if any — changes would be made to the lineup. Though coming off that disaster on Tuesday, one would figure there’d be a lineup change or two, even if just to shake up the mix.
Laviolette said the Rangers are “working through some things there, so can’t say (about lineup)” for what that’s worth.
Rookie forward Brennan Othmann was a healthy scratch against the Flames. Veteran defensemen Carson Soucy (three games) and Calvin de Haan (seven games) have been spending quite a bit of time recently in the press box.
Urho Vaakanainen stayed on late after the morning skate with de Haan, so perhaps Soucy is back in the lineup.
3. Riding Igor
One certainty in the Rangers lineup against the Maple Leafs is Shesterkin. Coming off that terrific performance against the Flames, Shesterkin will make his sixth straight start. That’s his longest consecutive games played stretch this season.; he previously started five games in a row twice.
Shesterkin is 2-3-0 in his past five starts despite allowing just nine goals. With a postseason berth hanging in the balance, the Rangers essentially are in playoff mode already, meaning Shesterkin will continue to play a lot down the stretch. Jonathan Quick has started twice since Feb. 23.
The Rangers have only two more back-to-backs on their schedule, so it wouldn’t be crazy to see Shesterkin start 11 of the last 13 games on the schedule, though the California trip next week may lead to another start either right before or after for Quick.
Thursday will be Shesterkin’s 52nd start this season. He’s never reached 60 games in a season, his tops being 58 in 2022-23.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Panarin – Trocheck – Cuylle
Lafreniere – J.T. Miller- Zibanejad
Kreider – Carrick – Parssinen
Berard – Brodzinski – Rempe
Soucy – Fox
K. Miller – Borgen
Jones – Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Rangers vs. Maple Leafs: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
When: Thursday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden
How to watch: MSG2
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