Zucc’s Back: A happy Mats Zuccarello gets congrats from Derick Brassard for one of his two goals in the Rangers’ 5-4 win over the Leafs.
The Canadian Press by Frank Gunn

Truth be told, I didn’t see much of tonight’s game. To my delight, at least I was able to catch the end. Mats Zuccarello’s pair allowed the Rangers to escape Toronto with a 5-4 win. Escape being the operative word. They finally beat the Leafs and gained two points. That’s about all that can be said. They’ll take the two and run.

Zuccarello continued his turnaround tallying twice to extend his point streak to six straight. Over that stretch, he’s got three goals and five assists totaling eight points. For most of the season, Zuccarello has been gun shy. Good things have happened for him by shooting the puck. It was his goal with 5:56 left that proved to be the game-winner.

Basically, the Rangers held on for dear life with the Leafs hitting the post and coming awfully close. They were able to win because Cam Talbot held up during a third period onslaught stopping 16 of 18 en route to 30 saves. He improved to 2-1-1 since Henrik Lundqvist’s injury. What the backup is finding out is that it’s not so easy being the number one guy. That’s how he must’ve felt after the Leafs rallied from two goals down in the third on goals from Morgan Rielly and Daniel Winnik 6:26 apart in the third period.

They blew three separate leads before finding a way to win for the first time in three. Dan Boyle started off the scoring by finishing off a Derick Brassard in front past a helpless James Reimer. There wasn’t a Leaf in sight on the offensive defenseman. Not to state the obvious but the Leafs aren’t great defensively. As if to prove a point, a blatant giveaway allowed Brassard and Nash to set up a wide open Zuccarello for his first increasing to 2-0 at 10:37 of the first.

There weren’t many penalties called on either side with four total (two apiece). But a Dan Girardi boarding minor led directly to Rielly scoring the first of two on the power play. Off a clean faceoff win from Tyler Bozak, Rielly took a Cody Franson feed and walked in and snapped a laser past Talbot cutting it to 2-1 with 4:21 left. Despite controlling much of the first by outshooting Toronto 17-6, the Rangers took a one-goal lead to the locker room.

Early in the second, the Original Sixes traded goals 26 seconds apart. First, Marc Staal skated around the entire Toronto D and set up rookie Kevin Hayes for an easy put away making it 3-1 Rangers at 1:42. But the Leafs came right back thanks to veteran defenseman Stephane Robidas, whose long wrister fooled Talbot. It was his first of the season.

How bad are the Leafs defensively? They’re hideous. Playing without captain Dion Phaneuf, the follies continued. While on the power play, they allowed a shorthanded goal to Dominic Moore from distance. Staal and Carl Hagelin took advantage of a turnover inside the Toronto blueline. Hagelin fed Moore, who skated and then took a long shot that squeaked through Reimer putting the Rangers ahead 4-2 halfway through.

By the time I got to the car following a late shift, MSG radio tandem Don LaGreca and Dave Maloney were discussing how much the Rangers dominated yet found themselves only up two. Maloney issued a warning. Apparently, he called the Leafs comeback. On the opening shift of the third, a vacated Rielly took a Winnik feed and beat Talbot stick side for his second only 20 seconds in cutting the deficit to 4-3.

A terrible Chris Kreider turnover allowed Winnik to steal the puck and center it off a Ranger skate past Talbot for an unassisted goal at 6:46 evening the score. By that point, I had just arrived at my buddy’s place and saw Dad’s text. I was pissed. How could they blow such leads against a awful team? Even with Talbot, it shouldn’t happen. They already suffered two humiliations to the Leafs when they still had a pulse.

Thankfully, another strong shift from Moore and Nash resulted in Zuccarello depositing his 10th at 14:04 to break the tie. It only held up because the Leafs hit a post. I thought for sure the puck was in with under three minutes remaining. Fortunately, it wasn’t.

NY Puck 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Dominic Moore, Rangers (SHG-5th, assist, +1 in 11:04-lone constant on 4th line)

2nd Star-Morgan Rielly, Leafs (2 goals-6th, 7th, 5 SOG, 3 giveaways, -2 in 22:51)

1st Star-Mats Zuccarello, Rangers (2 goals incl. GW with 5:56 left-9th, 10th, 5 SOG, 7 attempts, 3 hits, +2 in 18:03-Zucc’s back)

Stepan Faceoff Struggles Continue: Of concern is the Rangers’ continued lack of faceoff success. When Derek Stepan plays, they’re percentage drops. If Stepan doesn’t put up points, he must fare better on draws. He was minus-seven losing 14 of 21. As a team, the Rangers lost 40 of 67 (40 percent). At some point, this needs to be addressed. Stepan continues to show no improvement. He’s a very good player but the continued struggles on faceoffs is worrisome. It leads to puck possession for the opposition. That can’t happen in the playoffs. … Rangers improved to 31-16-5 and 67 points moving past the Capitals into third in the Metro. They’re a point behind the Pens and remain four behind the Islanders, who won 3-2 over the Oilers.