NEW YORK: Fueled by five second-period goals, the Toronto Maple Leafs grabbed their first win of the season with a victory against the New York Rangers yesterday at Madison Square Garden.
Right winger Phil Kessel, center Nazem Kadri, left winger James van Riemsdyk, center Tyler Bozak and right winger David Clarkson all scored during the middle period to chase Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who allowed six goals on 24 shots.
Defenceman Cody Franson scored in the first period for the Leafs, who offered plenty of support for James Reimer. The Toronto goaltender made 24 saves in his first start of the season but had to leave the game in the third period after a collision.
Rick Nash, Lee Stempniak and centre Derick Brassard scored for the Rangers (1-2-0).
Franson opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 7:45 of the first period. With Dominic Moore in the penalty box, Franson blasted a shot from above the right faceoff circle that beat Lundqvist to the stick side.
The Rangers answered with 2:38 remaining, when Nash finished a two-on-one rush by tapping home a pass from Martin St Louis to even the score at 1.
The Leafs (1-2-0) broke open the game with three goals in less than 10 minutes to start the second period. Kessel’s first goal of the season was the Leafs’ second power-play goal. After Kessel scored at 5:19, Kadri extended the lead to 3-1 by scoring off a van Riemsdyk feed at 7:50.
Van Riemsdyk scored on a short-handed breakaway at 9:44, deking Lundqvist to the ice before slipping the puck between his legs to make it 4-1. Stempniak cut the lead to 4-2, but goals from Bozak and Clarkson 48 seconds apart ended Lundqvist’s night and brought Cam Talbot into the game.
Nash did not return for the start of the third period, leaving to be with his pregnant wife, who was about to give birth. Talbot stopped all 12 shots he faced. Leafs backup goalie Jonathan Bernier allowed one goal and made 11 saves. REUTERS
