The longer it went, New York Rangers fans were left wondering if their team would ever score again. The scoreless streak stretched to eight periods in Toronto.

It took on a life of its own. Even when top stars got glorious scoring chances, they didn’t go in against Anthony Stolarz. It looked for all the world like he was going to become the fourth goalie to pitch a shutout.

As the Maple Leafs nursed a one-goal lead on the strength of a Matthew Knies’ first period power-play goal, Rangers coach Mike Sullivan looked for answers. He made a line tweak in the second period by flipping Will Cuylle and Alexis Lafreniere. Cuylle moved onto the top line with struggling forwards Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad. Lafreniere shifted to the second line with J.T. Miller and Conor Sheary. They still couldn’t buy a goal.

It took some extra effort from Juuso Parssinen to finally snap the drought. Less than five minutes into the third period, Parssinen checked a Leaf off the puck behind the net. He then moved in front and tipped in a Braden Schneider shot to score the Rangers’ first goal in 170:39.

Back in the lineup for Jonny Brodzinski, Parssinen had some jump. He was very active defensively and got better as the game moved along. A bigger and stronger player than Brodzinski, who didn’t establish much in two appearances, Parssinen made the most of his second game. He meshed well with Noah Laba and Taylor Raddysh. The line was more effective in an inspired third period, which saw the Rangers take it to the Leafs.

Despite getting some other looks, they couldn’t find the game-winner. The best chance came when Adam Edstrom forced a turnover in front of the Leafs net. He quickly moved the puck for a Matt Rempe high shot that hit the mask of Stolarz to knock it off. Before the refs could blow the play dead, Rempe set up a Miller shot that a maskless Stolarz also stopped. It was a wild sequence.

One of the most noticeable differences with Sullivan behind the Rangers bench is that he’s kept his word. With nothing decided late in regulation, he wasn’t afraid to send out the third and fourth lines. Considering how well the Sam Carrick unit has played, they deserved to be out there. Six games into the season, It’s the consistent play of Carrick, Edstrom, and Rempe that’s been generating scoring chances six games into the season.

In fact, Rempe had three shots in the game. Carrick was robbed by Stolarz on a two-on-one set up by Raddysh. Edstrom was involved as usual. It’s the improved play of Rempe that’s allowed Sullivan to use them more. Even when they were hemmed in their end, they defended well enough to limit the Leafs when they got the matchup.

Igor Shesterkin was back in net for his fifth start. He wasn’t as busy as Stolarz, who robbed both Miller and Cuylle on a power play. For the game, Stolarz was busier finishing with 28 saves, including eight when the Leafs were shorthanded.

With the game still scoreless, Cuylle took a hooking minor to put the Leafs on their second power play. After failing to convert their first chance, they connected when Knies had a Nylander shot go off him to open the scoring at 11:48.

Later in the period, with Knies off for taking down Panarin, the Rangers’ ineptitude continued. Zibanejad missed on a perfect setup. Stolarz then stopped Panarin, Lafreniere, and later stoned Cuylle. They couldn’t buy one.

A very evenly played second didn’t result in any goals. Stolarz continued his mastery by denying Cuylle, who had a strong game leading the Blueshirts with five shots. After the line change, he was much more effective. Perhaps his energy and grit can rub off on Zibanejad and Panarin.

When the Leafs did turn it up, Shesterkin made the key stops to give his team a chance. Shots were 10-9 Leafs in the period.

In the third, it was mostly Rangers. They kept coming at the Leafs, who looked like a punch drunk prize fighter hanging on. Eventually, Parssinen was able to create enough havoc to get the tying goal with 15:09 left in regulation. It was well-deserved.

The loudest cheer of the night came when Scotiabank Arena provided a score update with the Toronto Blue Jays surging ahead of the Seattle Mariners in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series.

Energized by the crowd, the Leafs had their best surge. But Shesterkin made a strong save on Nylander. He later stopped Nick Robertson. One player who was mostly invisible was Leafs captain Auston Matthews. He wasn’t a factor in regulation.

In overtime, it didn’t take long to decide the outcome. Zibanejad fanned on a shot and lost his footing. That turnover led to a two-on-one. Matthews worked a give and go with Nylander, who made the nice backdoor feed for an easy tip-in for the overtime winner at 58 seconds.

On the play, Panarin didn’t get back in time. Instead of hustling to take Matthews, he went to Nylander, who made a great toe drag to get around a diving Adam Fox to set up an open Matthews for the winner.

He isn’t scoring goals. Panarin only has two assists in half a dozen games. It isn’t asking too much for him to put some effort in defensively. Even if it’s on a three-on-three. He wasn’t on that long. He deserves a lot of blame for the loss. He only had two shots and was a complete non-factor.

That has to change soon. Both Panarin and Zibanejad aren’t scoring. Neither is Miller or Lafreniere. When they visit the Montreal Canadiens, who have some magic going early thanks to Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, the Rangers better be on their toes. If they’re not, the first place Canadiens have too much firepower. That’ll be a very tough test on Saturday.

Borgen Plays

After being a game-time decision, according to Sullivan, Will Borgen played last night. The Rangers recalled Scott Morrow if he couldn’t go.

Playing on the second pair with the steady Matthew Robertson, Borgen took 24 shifts and logged 16:22 of ice time. Robertson had another good game, finishing with 22 shifts (15:24).