The New York Rangers needed this win and for all intents and purposes, they were the better team. But the Toronto Maple Leafs fought hard and secured their fourth straight win after beating New York 3-2. Anthony Stolarz and the penalty kill were the difference makers as the Leafs weathered the storm, defended well when they could and put together some timely goals. It was particularly a tough game for the third line and second pair who were both hammered at five-on-five with an expected goals percentage of 2.8 and 8.4, respectively. However, the Leafs hit a milestone with this victory, winning 40 straight after going into the third with a lead. That’s key as we get closer and closer to the postseason. The team gets a final grade of B.
Player reports
Anthony Stolarz: A
There were bigger rebounds coming from Stolarz in the first than what we’re used to, though he was still the best player on the ice and came up with the follow-up save after each of them. He calmed the waters for the Leafs as the Rangers had the majority of the shots and scoring chances, his best save unfortunately was off a turnover. Sam Carrick finished the game with four shots and three of them came from that sequence in the second. Taking that on top of his buzzer beater save through the screen and strong right pad stop on the penalty kill, sums up another excellent performance from Stolarz.
Mitch Marner: B+
Marner was a star on a well-oiled penalty kill tonight. He disrupted a number of passes and shot attempts, and was in the right spot to deter Vincent Trocheck from getting a scoring chance in the slot after both defenceman were below the goal line. Offensively, his milestone assist started with a jump. Igor Shesterkin is known for his puck handling and minutes earlier, he nearly got an assist himself moving the puck up to Trochek. Marner read and blocked it perfectly leading to Matthew Knies’ goal.
Jake McCabe: B+
Craig Berube leaned on McCabe in this one as he was the only defeceman to see over 20 minutes, finishing at 23:08. It wasn’t talked about much but that was a perfect stretch pass to William Nylander to start the second. He also had a great sequence on that third-period penalty kill clearing a rebound, winning body position over Will Cuylle to swat the puck around the boards and block the follow-up one-timer.
Auston Matthews: B
Matthews was more noticeable around the net in the front with two of his better chances coming from right in front of Shesterkin. He had two chances off a post in the second and a well-executed deflection that was saved. Although he didn’t score, his pass to Knies extended his point streak to eight games. I thought he could’ve done more on Mika Zibanejad’s goal, and the line was running around late in the game, but they responded well from it and Matthews won his battles to keep the puck in the Rangers’ end when they were pushing for the equalizer.
David Kämpf: B
Offence isn’t his focus but Kämpf created two offensive opportunities, one of which closed out New York’s power play. He was great on the penalty kill and Berube put him on the ice along with the top line to defend the one-goal lead.
Philippe Myers: B
Next man up with Chris Tanev out and I thought he had a fine night with McCabe playing 18:28.
William Nylander: B-
Own goal off the breakaway thanks to Urho Vaakanainen. That third-period high-sticking penalty could’ve been costly; luckily the penalty kill was sharp tonight.
WILLIAM NYLANDER 🚨
52 seconds into the second period pic.twitter.com/jNo4Ge0rbQ
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 1, 2025
Matthew Knies: B-
A timely and much needed game-winning goal in the third after a fairly quiet game.
MATTHEW KNIES 🚨
THE LEAFS REGAIN THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/LvPYFnVXM8
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 1, 2025
John Tavares: C+
If winning a net-front battle that the opposition initiates gets you a trip to the penalty box, then so be it.
Bobby McMann: C+
Stolarz had to bail McMann out after his defensive zone turnover from the corner. He showed off his speed against Braden Schneider before his penalty and had a nice faceoff play to Nick Robertson on the power play.
Max Domi: C+
Excellent patience on the pass to Ekman-Larsson got Shesterkin late enough for him to find a hole to score on.
Morgan Rielly: C+
Another to keep his offensive run going. He was added to the top unit in the latter half of the game, but the same results came.
Simon Benoit: C+
Finished the game with five hits and made good on his opportunity to defend the lead late, moving the puck into the corner to kill the clock.
Ryan Reaves: C+
Reaves’ first game since February 4th with big hits on Zac Jones and Sam Carrick. He had another noticeable moment towards the end of the first jumping up into the boards and stopping Shesterkin’s clearing attempt to keep the puck in the offensive zone.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson: C
Second power-play goal of the season and fourth total. Overcommitting on the short-handed goal didn’t help to deter it. Ekman-Larsson, unfortunately, did not finish the game, leaving in the third.
OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON 🚨
The power play strikes early pic.twitter.com/Pw8ewCSzTX
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 1, 2025
Nick Robertson: C
Robertson’s fingerprints are on that first goal after winning the puck battle against Trochek and working it to the point. His fingerprints are also on the tying goal after turning the puck over on the power play.
Steven Lorentz: C
He finished the game with two shots and a hit.
Pontus Holmberg: C
There weren’t many moments for Holmberg tonight as his goal streak came to an end.
Conor Timmins: C-
Sloppy play as a pairing at times. Timmins had a chance to clear the puck easily but instead forced a pass to Benoit who was covered. He made up for it by redirecting the eventual shot from Panarin, but those are the decisions that wind up being daggers.
Game score
What’s next for the Leafs?
The Leafs are in Pittsburgh for an afternoon game against the Penguins at 1:00 p.m. on TSN4.
(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
