Rangers goal breakdown: This team is built different

The Rangers got down big pretty early in this one, down 2-0 and 3-1 in the first period. But Ryan Reaves kept them in it until the rest of the team woke up, and then the Rangers went to work. This is a team that has a completely different aura from the past few years. Last year, this team is DOA after getting down early. Now, they come back and make teams pay for backing off.

The fourth line were the heroes in this one, with two big goals to keep the Rangers in it until the team realized they had a game to play. Ryan Reaves had a pair of goals, something I’m sure we all bet on, and they were instrumental in keeping the Rangers in it. Then it was the top guys who completed the comeback, with authority.

Igor Shesterkin had a bit of a rough first too, but he also put it together in the last two periods to hold the Leafs to just the three goals. This is a solid win that you build on.

Leafs 1, Rangers 0

Just a bad turnover from Ryan Lindgren.

Leafs 2, Rangers 0

Jacob Trouba wound up on the wrong side of the crease on the PK because K’Andre Miller chased behind the net, a big no-no. Mitch Marner walked into the open ice and beat Shesterkin over the shoulder.

Leafs 2, Rangers 1

This was a good pass by Thanos Greg McKegg, and Ryan Reaves with the nicely done quick transition from backhand to forehand to snap it by Jack Campbell. Deferring to Jack Han for the defensive breakdown by the Leafs, this was an odd one where Auston Matthews was supposed to cover the net front where Reaves was. But that was only because of a fluke where both defensemen were in the corner. Usually it’s a D and a F, and the second D covers the slot. Good stuff from Jack, as per usual.

Leafs 3, Rangers 1

Michael Bunting had the rebound go off of him and into the net. The back check was pretty bad on this, plus Shesty’s rebound control wasn’t the best on this either.

Leafs 3, Rangers 2

The fourth line was the Rangers best line all game, and it mostly had to do with them being the only line that consistently forechecked all game. Reaves was in on the forecheck and was part of forcing the turnover. Then it was a simple matter of a shot wide that came to Reaves, and his second whack went off the defenseman’s stick and over Campbell. Not so much a defensive breakdown, just some good old fashioned hard work.

Leafs 3, Rangers 3

This is a good turnover forced by Strome and Chytil, which led to the Leafs scrambling. When teams scramble, they miss assignments, and that’s how Adam Fox was so open at the back door.

Rangers 4, Leafs 3

Broken plays lead to goals. The initial shot by Ryan Lindgren was mostly blocked, but it went right to Strome who had the empty net.

Rangers 5, Leafs 3

No one picked up Kreider, the best net front presence, at the front of the net. That’s just bad.

Rangers 6, Leafs 3

Adam Fox empty netter.

Shot Heatmap

The Leafs really focused on one area of the ice for their shots. That’s pretty impressive when you think about it, but also a bit easy to predict, even if hard to defend. The Leafs crashed the net all night, and Igor Shesterkin was up to the task.

Game Flow

The Rangers really started flat in this one, but about halfway through the second they woke up. The game played out that way too, with Ryan Reaves keeping them in it until the rest of the team figured it out. It also helps that the Rangers were playing the Leafs, who apparently can’t hold leads anymore. This team really woke up in the final 30 minutes and took it to the Leafs.

This is a huge win for the Rangers, who despite having clear roster holes, are a fun team to watch that is never really out of it. Those roster holes can be addressed, hopefully, but it doesn’t take away from the aura of this team, that they are never officially out of it. It ain’t pretty most of the time, but they have wins. And this one they did at even strength.