The Toronto Maple Leafs suffered their second loss of the season and first at home against the New York Rangers, falling 4-1. Let’s break down the game into the good, bad, and ugly aspects.
The Good: Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Matthew Knies
The game was closer than the 4-1 score suggests, with the Rangers scoring two empty-net goals. Both teams generated plenty of offense with Toronto leading in Scoring Chances and High-Danger Scoring Chances. The Maple Leafs’ top line of Matthews, Marner, and Knies had a strong game, with Matthews scoring the lone goal against Rangers’ goalie Igor Shesterkin.
The Bad
Despite generating numerous shots, the Maple Leafs made Shesterkin’s night easy by missing the net on 18 shot attempts. The fourth line struggled with poor underlying numbers, contributing to the team’s defeat.
The Ugly: Maple Leafs Defense
Maple Leafs defense allowed the Rangers to score two empty-net goals when they pulled their goalie late in the game, leading to a 4-1 loss.
What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?
This game initiates a busy week for the Maple Leafs, playing five games in eight nights. They face tough matchups against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, and Winnipeg Jets.
