For at least two periods, the Rangers had to love the position they were in. They played a good game against a quality opponent in hostile territory. They got rewarded with a two-goal lead. Then, came the third period.

In what can best be described as rope-a-dope- an expression former Hockey Hall of Fame commentator John Davidson made famous – they held on for dear life to pull out a 4-1 (2-1) victory over the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Hockey Night In Canada.

They won due to the goalie. When the chips are down, you can count on Igor Shesterkin to carry this team to victory. Facing a Leafs’ barrage, he made countless clutch saves to stop them in their tracks. Auston Matthews kept firing away. Despite cutting the deficit to one with over 16 minutes left, he and his talented teammates couldn’t beat Shesterkin again. He wouldn’t allow it. He stopped 17 of 18 shots in the frantic third en route to a brilliant 34 save performance.

Unlike the New York media who somehow elected Mika Zibanejad first star in a recent home win, the Toronto media made sure to vote Shesterkin as the game’s number one star. He faced a combined 17 shots from Matthews and William Nylander. Only one beat him. Matthews overpowered Adam Fox from behind the net and came in front to score his second of the season. That was it. Shesterkin did the rest to give the Rangers their fourth win in five games (4-0-1).

Facing an early litmus test, they started a little slowly. At the outset, it was the Leafs who got pucks in and established their forecheck. In particular, the fourth line of Steven Lorentz, David Kampf, and Ryan Reaves made their presence felt. When they were matched up against the Rangers’ fourth line of Sam Carrick, Adam Edstrom, and Matt Rempe, they had the better of the play on the first two shifts.

If anyone was expecting a rematch of last Mar. 2 between Rempe and Reaves, it never materialized. They stuck to hockey. Each received 11 shifts. Reaves had one active shift when he delivered a couple of big hits early. Kaapo Kakko was on the receiving end of one. Rempe wasn’t much of a factor. But he nearly had Carrick in front for a goal.

If there was a role player who excelled, it was Carrick. The crafty pivot made some subtle plays with the puck both defensively and offensively. He’s a smart player. That’s why the Rangers signed him. So far, so good.

As far as the big matchup, the big line of Matthews, Mitch Marner, and Matthew Knies went head to head with the Rangers’ top line of Vincent Trocheck, Artemi Panarin, and Alexis Lafreniere. It was an exciting battle to watch between some of the game’s best. Matthews tested Shesterkin early. He would later hit the goalpost.

On a routine Reilly Smith shot, Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz gave up a rebound in front. Mika Zibanejad had a good scoring chance, but was denied by Stolarz. He’s the Toronto starter until Joseph Woll is ready. He’s still recovering from off-season surgery.

With less than nine minutes remaining in the first period, the Rangers got the matchup they wanted. On a good shift from the fourth line, Carrick dumped the puck deep to allow the Rangers’ top line to come on for a quick change. Matthews was unable to get on the ice.

The Panarin line went to work. On some strong work from Trocheck, he moved the puck up top for a Victor Mancini shot that Trocheck deflected. With the Leafs scrambling, Lafreniere got to a loose puck in front to bury his third of the season. Mancini picked up the secondary assist for the first of his career. He continues to play with poise. He worked with veteran Chad Ruhwedel on the third pair. There were some scary moments. But Mancini handled the pressure well.

If the first half favored the Leafs, the second half was mostly Rangers. Following the Lafreniere goal, they picked it up. On a great solo effort, Filip Chytil raced in on Stolarz to get a backhand on goal that was stopped. He drew a holding minor on Pontus Holmberg.

On the power play, the Blueshirts came close twice. First, Panarin had a shot go off the goalpost. Then, a Chris Kreider tip-in rang off the crossbar. They were that close to going up by two.

The first featured some good hitting from both sides. K’Andre Miller had a clean takeout on Knies. He doesn’t always play with that edge. When he does, Miller’s a more effective player. He has been okay with Adam Fox on the top pair.

In the second period, the Leafs had some close calls. Max Domi missed wide on an early opportunity. Knies had a deflection go wide. He created a few chances throughout the game. But he was unable to finish. The Leafs found it difficult to beat the brick wall known as Mount Igor.

If there’s a line that needs to get going, it’s the Zibanejad unit with Kreider and Smith. They were a bit better in this one. On a delayed penalty, they worked the puck around with precision. Panarin came on as the extra attacker. On what was a brilliant passing play, Smith made a touch pass for Zibanejad who then centered across for Kreider who tipped in his fourth of the season to make it 2-0.

Trailing by two, the Leafs tried to come back quickly. Matthews had two shots in succession stopped by Shesterkin. On a power play thanks to a Panarin slash on Knies, Matthews only got one through. Itt was snapped up by Shesterkin, who was feeling it. The Rangers killed off the penalty. They were aggressive shorthanded with Miller getting a shot right on Stolarz.

With over five minutes left in the period, Domi hit the crossbar. Nicholas Robertson then missed wide. Mancini and Ruhwedel were out there with the top line. As lethal as they are offensively, they need to play better in their end. There are moments where they get caught watching the play instead of checking.

There was a good amount of transition by both teams. Each side has enough team speed to move up the ice and generate chances. The Rangers don’t mind that style. It’s when they get hemmed in their end that things can get dicey. The Leafs are a heavier team. It showed once the third period hit.

With Kaapo Kakko off for high-sticking, John Tavares thought he had one. Set up perfectly in the slot by Marner, he got all of a one-timer. But Shesterkin reached back to make a great glove save to deny the former Leafs captain. Matthews replaced him before the season.

Back at full strength, Will Cuylle sent a soft shot pass towards Carrick in front. He got off a low shot on Stolarz that led to a rebound. Jacob Trouba was cross-checked to the ice by Domi with less than two minutes left. That put the Rangers back on the power play. On it, Zibanejad got all of a one-timer only to see a diving Chris Tanev make a tough block that left him in pain. After skating slowly to the Leafs bench, he played the first part of the third period before exiting. Tanev is a gritty defensive defenseman who sacrifices. Every team needs that kind of player.

At the start of the third, the Leafs killed the remainder of the power play. Afterward, they went on the attack. Following a Shesterkin save on Nylander, the Rangers iced the puck. It didn’t take long for Matthews to finally take advantage. On some strong work behind the net, he came out with the puck around Fox and worked his way to the front before whipping a wrist shot past Shesterkin. That made it a one-goal game with 16:20 remaining.

The Rangers managed a few long shots on Stolarz that he handled. On the flip side, you had the Matthews line spending long stretches in the Rangers’ zone. He was denied twice by Shesterkin, who also stopped Marner. Leafs coach Craig Berube wisely got a favorable matchup by having Matthews’ line up against Mancini and Ruhwedel. It was an adventure.

When you’re on home ice, that’s what the last change is for. Berube took advantage. Peter Laviolette couldn’t do much about it. Neither could his team. Whenever Matthews came out, it didn’t matter who was going against them. They dominated their shifts, leading to chaos. Only Shesterkin prevented a Leafs’ takeover.

Matthews drew a tripping minor on Trouba with under eight minutes remaining in regulation. After the top unit struggled during the first half of the power play, Berube sent out his second power play unit. They nearly tied it. After saves from Shesterkin on Tavares, and Robertson, Knies looked like he had him beat. Shesterkin missed on the poke check to leave the net open. But Knies missed wide. That was as close as they came.

The Rangers were a little better after that crucial penalty kill. They were able to get some chances. Edstrom had an effective shift with Chytil and Kakko. He sent a shot wide. Kakko forced Stolarz into a key stop to keep the game within reach. Trocheck also was able to get a good wrist shot right on Stolarz later. Zibanejad also forced Stolarz into a save.

When Berube lifted Stolarz for a 6-on-5, Nylander was stopped and Matthews missed. After Zibanejad missed on the empty net to lead to an icing, the Rangers sealed it thanks to some stellar defensive work. With the Leafs desperate to get the puck back, Smith moved the puck for Zibanejad, who found Kreider for the empty netter with a minute to go. Panarin added an empty netter for the final margin.

In the frantic third, the Leafs outshot the Rangers 18-11. Shesterkin was the difference. In one period, he stole the show. Stolarz was good for Toronto, finishing with 25 saves. Shesterkin was better. There’s a reason why he’s considered the league’s best goalie. Pretty soon, he’ll be paid like it.