Key Moments
The Toronto Maple Leafs edged the New York Rangers 2-1 in an overtime thriller on Thursday night. Auston Matthews scored the game-winning goal just 58 seconds into the extra period to secure the victory for the Leafs.
The Rangers struck first, with Matias Maccelli opening the scoring with a shorthanded tally in the third period. However, the Leafs responded quickly, as Nicholas Robertson found the back of the net to tie the game and set up the dramatic overtime finish.
Player Impact
Matthews was the hero for the Maple Leafs, netting the decisive goal to cap off a strong performance. The star center finished with a goal and an assist on the night. Fellow forward William Nylander also had a productive game, recording two assists.
On the Rangers' side, goaltender Cayden Primeau kept his team in the contest with a 36-save effort. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson logged heavy minutes and provided a steady presence on the back end.
Takeaways
The Maple Leafs continued their strong start to the season, improving to 3-2-0 on the year. This was their second straight win, showcasing the team's resilience after falling behind early.
For the Rangers, the loss marked their third consecutive defeat. However, there were positive signs, as they were able to stay competitive against one of the Eastern Conference's top teams. Head coach Gerard Gallant will look to get his squad back on track in their next outing.
TL;DR
- Auston Matthews scored the overtime winner to lift the Maple Leafs past the Rangers 2-1.
- Matias Maccelli gave the Rangers the lead with a shorthanded goal, but Nicholas Robertson equalized for Toronto.
- William Nylander recorded two assists, while Cayden Primeau made 36 saves for the Rangers in a strong goaltending performance.
- The Maple Leafs have now won two straight games, while the Rangers have dropped three in a row.