GAMEDAY: In New York, Maple Leafs look to build off consecutive wins
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TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (41-24-3) at NEW YORK RANGERS (33-30-6)
When: Thursday, 7 p.m., Madison Square Garden
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GAMEDAY: In New York, Maple Leafs look to build off consecutive wins Back to video
TV: Sportsnet Ontario Radio: The Fan 590
Odds: Maple Leafs +110, Rangers -135
The buzz
The Leafs weren’t scheduled to arrive in New York until the wee morning hours after beating the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 at home … The Maple Leafs will face a Rangers team that managed a paltry 13 shots on goal in a 2-1 loss against the visiting Calgary Flames on Tuesday. This despite New York is clinging to playoff hopes — it’s one point out of the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference — and the fact that Calgary, the lowest-scoring team in the NHL, played the night before in Toronto … J.T. Miller has 18 points (seven goals and 11 assists) in 19 games since he was acquired in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks … Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin has a .907 save percentage in 51 games, well below his .919 career save percentage … In the Leafs’ previous visit on Feb. 28, Matthew Knies broke a 2-2 tie in the third period, giving Toronto a 3-2 win. In 10 games since, the Rangers are 4-4-2; the Leafs are 4-4-1 in nine games … The Leafs are 6-4-2 in the second game of back-to-back sets. They have three back-to-backs remaining after Thursday … Could Rangers winger Chris Kreider work his way into the Yankees’ rotation this summer? He’s 18-4 (goals-assists) this season.
The news
Anthony Stolarz is expected to get the start in net for the Leafs after Joseph Woll played against the Avalanche. In four career games at Madison Square Garden, Stolarz, a native of New Jersey, has two wins (including one shutout) and two losses … Leafs coach Craig Berube said it would be a good opportunity to get “fresh guys” in the lineup in the second game of the back-to-back. With that in mind, Berube told media in New York late on Thursday afternoon that centre David Kampf, who has been a healthy scratch for the past three games, will draw in. Calle Jarnkrok will not be in the Leafs lineup.
The quote
“We’ve moved on (from the loss to Calgary). We’re now focusing on the next one. We have to be better. We acknowledge that. We have to work better than we did (versus the Flames). We have to lead with more speed. We weren’t good enough. We addressed those things.”
— Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, following an optional practice on Wednesday
The poll
Leafs captain Auston Matthews scored his 27th goal of the season on Wednesday night. With 14 games remaining, how many more goals do you think he will score?
- At least five
- Six to eight
- Eight to 10
- More than 10
The projected Leafs lineup
Forwards
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann-John Tavares-William Nylander
Pontus Holmberg-Max Domi-Nick Robertson
Scott Laughton-David Kampf-Steven Lorentz
Defence
Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo
Simon Benoit—Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Goal
Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll
The injuries
TOR: D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), F Max Pacioretty (undisclosed).
NYR: F Adam Edstrom (lower body), F Arthur Kaliyev (upper body).
The prediction
Lifted by their win against Colorado, the Leafs take advantage of a struggling Rangers team and win 3-1.
tkoshan@postmedia.com
X: @koshtorontosun
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