National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Toronto 6, NY Rangers 3
When: 7:00 PM ET, Sunday, October 12, 2014
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Referees: Chris Lee, Gord Dwyer
Linesmen: Jean Morin, Andy McElman
Attendance: 18006

Maple Leafs 6, Rangers 3: Phil Kessel scored a power-play goal and added two assists as visiting Toronto tallied five times in the second period to secure its first victory.

James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and defenseman Cody Franson each collected a goal and an assist while Nazem Kadri and David Clarkson also tallied for the Maple Leafs. James Reimer stopped 24-of-26 shots before exiting after a collision with New York's Dominic Moore and Jonathan Bernier (11 saves) finished the contest.

Rick Nash scored his fourth goal and Lee Stempniak added his second tally in as many nights for the Rangers, who have dropped two in a row overall and five consecutive home openers. Derick Brassard also scored, but Henrik Lundqvist yielded six goals on 24 shots before being relieved by Cam Talbot (12 saves) late in the second period.

With the score tied at 1-1, Franson's shot from the point deflected off the skate of captain Dion Phaneuf and Kessel alertly swept home the loose puck from the slot at 5:19 of the second period. Van Riemsdyk set up Kadri's tally 2 1/2 minutes later with a nifty feed from behind the net before scoring on a short-handed breakaway at 9:43.

Stempniak trimmed the deficit in controversial fashion, as his goal was allowed to stand after officials deemed that Peter Holland intentionally knocked the net off its moorings before the puck crossed the line. The momentum was short-lived, however, as Bozak and Clarkson scored 48 seconds apart to chase Lundqvist and give Toronto a 6-2 lead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Reimer, who has a history of concussions, said after the game that he was fine and the team "erred on the side of caution" in removing him from the contest. ... The Rangers confirmed that Nash left the arena prior to the third period to join his pregnant wife as the couple awaits the birth of its first child. ... Toronto scored five goals in a period for the first time since Jan. 7, 2011 against the Atlanta Thrashers. ... Franson's blast from the right faceoff dot opened the scoring 7:45 into the first period before New York RW Martin St. Louis' brilliant cross-slot feed found Nash, who gained a step on Toronto D Roman Polak and redirected the puck past Reimer.
Top Game Performances
 
Toronto   NY Rangers
Phil Kessel 3 Points Lee Stempniak 2
Phil Kessel 1 Goals Lee Stempniak 1
Phil Kessel 2 Assists Lee Stempniak 1
Phil Kessel 1 Power Play Goals N/A
James Van Riemsdyk 1 Short Handed Goals N/A
James Reimer .923 Save Percentage Cameron Talbot 1.000
James Reimer 24 Saves Henrik Lundqvist 18
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Toronto 36 6 2-4 2-2 4 37
NY Rangers 38 3 0-2 2-4 8 29
Upcoming Games
  • NY Rangers will play their next game at home against NY Islanders. The Rangers have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .500 after a loss.
  • Toronto will play their next game at home against Colorado. The Maple Leafs have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .500 after a loss.