It took a while. But the Rangers climbed out of a two-goal hole to win for the second time this year. When it was over, they’d scored five unanswered en route to a satisfying 5-2 victory over the Leafs. A couple of critical mistakes allowed the guests to jump out to a two-goal lead. Despite outshooting them by a wide margin, they fell behind early.

A blown coverage allowed Mikhail Grabovski to have all day to deke Henrik Lundqvist for the game’s first goal. It was our top pair of Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi that got victimized. McDonagh took most of the heat on Twitter, which came in handy along with my Ranger texts. They still trailed by one when James Reimer robbed Rick Nash on a breakaway. Nash went high but Reimer’s cat-like glove denied him.

Another mental mistake led to Toronto’s second of the period. Called for a bench minor (too many men), the Rangers failed to kill it off. Ex-Flyer James van Riemsdyk got to a John-Michael Liles rebound and steered the puck past a flustered Henrik Lundqvist. On the play, Marc Staal went too high leaving Mike Del Zotto to fend for himself. It was easy pickings for JVR, who netted his third.

Judging on the shots, I was frustrated into thinking it was going to be one of those nights when they totally outplay an opponent and might not win. Fortunately, the Rangers were very determined to make tonight a good one. It took a while for them to come back. Brad Richards got it started when he backhanded home a Marian Gaborik rebound past Reimer to pull within 2-1 at 5:43 of the second. Nash started the play by gaining the zone and firing a shot off Reimer. Gaborik poked away with the puck coming to Richards, who put it into an open side for his second.

The Blueshirts continued to pepper Reimer, who kept his team in front until a frantic third. Trailing by one, the Rangers erupted for four goals. Staal started it when he drove the net and finished off a Del Zotto pass for his first. A great play with Gaborik right in the middle. A kid outside told me they tied it. He was a Ranger fan and said, “Let’s Go Rangers.”

As I got in the car and drove back, Gaborik scored the winner with 7:03 left. It was a great passing play that started off a strong fore check. Richards worked the puck back to Staal, who fired for Gaborik in front. He redirected the shot pass past Reimer for his fourth. A great finish with Gabby showing off his skill. Nash didn’t get an assist but helped draw attention away from Gaborik. Exactly what a star power forward can do.

The fourth goal came off some more strong attack time. Brian Boyle has taken some heat for a sluggish start. He entered with no points and a minus-four rating. However, it was his play along the boards that got rewarded. On a night he also was stronger in the faceoff circle going 12-of-20, he drove to the net and had a Del Zotto shot go off him for his first. Del Zotto took a Derek Stepan feed and had a shot carom right back to him. He fired again and Boyle scored the key insurance marker with 2:52 remaining.

With Reimer off for an extra attacker, Nash unselfishly flipped the puck ahead for Gaborik, who scored his fifth in three games.

QUICK HITS

-The Rangers outshot the Leafs 41-17.
-The top line of Gaborik-Richards-Nash combined for three goals, five assists and went a combined plus-12.

-Staal’s goal was the first for a Ranger defenseman. He finished 1-1-2 while partner Del Zotto was 0-2-2. They combined for a plus-eight. On for four goals.

-As predicted, there were two heavyweight bouts. They came two seconds apart in the first. In the undercard, Arron Asham lost to Mike Brown. The main event saw former Ranger Colton Orr knock down Mike Rupp.

-The Rangers went 0-for-4 on the power play. The Leafs converted 1-for-4, cashing in on the bench minor.

-In 24:49 of ice-time, Girardi had an assist with four shots, four blocked shots and three hits.

-Face-offs were Toronto 32, New York 31. Boyle was the Rangers’ best going 12-8 while Richards was 12-for-26. The Leafs’ best was Grabovski (12-8) while Tyler Bozak was 8-for-18.

-The fourth line barely played again with Jeff Halpern only taking 10 shifts (4:16) while Asham played five (1:57) and Rupp six (2:08). One the signing becomes official, Jason Arnott can only help.

–Carl Hagelin was held without a point for the fifth consecutive game.

-Stepan’s assist gives him four for the season.

–Steve Eminger took seven shifts (4:12). Anton Stralman had 22 (13:48).

-In his fifth straight start, Lundqvist made 15 saves to pick up his second win. Counterpart Reimer was far busier turning aside 37 of 41.

–Dion Phaneuf was minus-four.

-Liles finished with two assists.

-Rangers (2-3-0) host the Flyers (2-3-0), who won their second in a row by pasting the Panthers 7-1. The game is Tuesday at MSG.