The New York Rangers can draw on their 7-3 home loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs last week for incentive Tuesday night when the teams clash again in Toronto.
Auston Matthews had two goals and two assists for the Maple Leafs in the victory over the Rangers last Tuesday.
Matthews (illness) did not play Saturday when Toronto defeated the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins 7-0, when Martin Jones stopped 38 shots to earn his 29th career shutout and first in two starts this season.
“It was a pretty impressive game, top to bottom, start to finish,” Jones said. “That’s an effort we can definitely build off of. Lot of positives out of tonight. We were just solid, honestly. I wasn’t asked to do anything too crazy out there, just play solid, make the saves I was supposed to make and the guys were really good in front of the net. Our penalty kill was really good when we needed it, we were just really solid.”
Matthews is on a four-game goal streak with seven goals in that span. He has seven points in his past two games (four goals, three assists).
The Rangers have won twice since the loss to the Maple Leafs, including a 2-1 overtime road win over the Boston Bruins Saturday with Vincent Trocheck scoring both goals.
He tied the game 1-1 at 10:50 of the third period on the power play.
Prior to the tying goal, the Rangers were 0-for-4 with the man-advantage.
“I thought we did a lot of really good things on those power plays earlier in the game,” Trocheck said. “It was just a matter of us knowing we were doing the right things. We were getting good looks and continuing to stay with it and do those same things, and then just have to bear down on our chances.”
“I think that’s a game that kind of brings a team together, I think a little bit,” Rangers captain Jacob Trouba said. “The last 10 minutes felt almost like a playoff game, I thought, just with how tight it was, and one mistake, you know it’s going to end up in your net. So, I think that’s a good hockey game, it’s fun to play. Great for our team.”
The Rangers have scored power-play goals in four straight games and nine of their past 11 games.
Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin earned his 11th win of the season Saturday by stopping 21 shots. Since 2021-22, Shesterkin has allowed one goal or fewer 43 times — the most in the NHL.
Shesterkin was in goal for the loss to the Maple Leafs last week and allowed six goals on 29 shots, including four first-period goals on 11 shots.
Toronto is 9-4-2 (20 points) at home. The Rangers are 11-4-1 (23 points) on the road.
In Toronto’s romp against Pittsburgh, Bobby McMann scored his first career NHL goal. Max Domi had a goal and two assists and Tyler Bertuzzi matched his career best with three assists. Matthew Knies scored the first goal of the game and added an assist.
“We’ve played without Auston over the years at different times and the group has reacted well to that,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Certainly thrilled with how guys stepped up here today throughout the lineup. Good energy and good start to the game. Knies got us going and the guys never looked back from there.”
Matthews and TJ Brodie (illness), who also did not play Saturday, took part in practice Monday.
–Field Level Media
