Relief Turns to Heartbreak as Rangers Drought Ends in OT Loss to Toronto
New York came into Toronto with only one thing in mind: to get that puck in the net at long last. Six whole periods of scoreless hockey for New York coming into tonight, and they looked to break the drought at long last, and break it they did. Sadly, their aggressive game tonight was cut short with a brutal end to such an intense game. New York ended their drought and escaped with just a point as they fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 in overtime.
Their curse on home ice seemed to have spread to the road now, as New York can't seem to catch a break. Though Toronto may have looked like the better team for that first period, Anthony Stolarz kept the frustration going for the Blueshirts. As the Rangers penalty kill continued to be perfect for Toronto's first power play, their second power play at last beat the Rangers. A few failed clearing attempts by the Rangers resulted in Matthew Knies being in the right spot to put one past Igor Shesterkin, putting Toronto up 1-0.
The Rangers' power play frustrated plenty of fans last year, failing to make any shot attempts as they cruised through the outside. The shots are definitely coming; they're finding each other in the slot, but the goalies they face just can't be beaten. Mika Zibanejad picked up a pretty chance in the slot, followed by Will Cuylle getting a pretty chance with a rebound, but Toronto's goaltender said no. The million-dollar question now for New York fans: Will this team ever score again?
New York fans have seen second periods like this before, because they've been happening for the last two and a half games. Another second period keeping up with a team with high expectations, and another second period where the score remains the same. Toronto had their chances as well, but Shesterkin continues to do what he does best, with no support. It seems like forever ago when Taylor Raddysh scored in Pittsburgh, marking the last goal New York scored.
With the second period ending, the New York Rangers have now gone 165 minutes without scoring. Frustrating indeed, but perhaps this is a sign, a sign of what's best for the future. Then again, looking at the kind of shots the Blueshirts were putting on Stolarz, it makes sense why they didn't score. The closest chance game came at the end of the second, with an odd-man rush which led to Sam Carrick being robbed by Stolarz. The buzzer went off in the second, and the frustration continued to boil deep within the Blueshirts with twenty remaining.
New York came out aggressively, and the frustration was evident; they knew they had to score during this period. Their aggressiveness soon paid off as New York fans were blessed at long last with a puck in the net. The Rangers took advantage of Stolarz without a stick and fired it on net, with Juuso Parssinen getting a piece and tying the game at one. It was then that this game turned intense, as both goaltenders locked in to send this one to overtime.
First overtime of the season for both teams, what a game this was. The point is always crucial for any team, but the extra one had to go to one. Sadly, New York had to take the one point as disaster struck quickly in overtime. A brutal turnover by Zibanejad put the nail in the coffin as it led to Auston Matthews tapping in the game-winner.
Despite another aggressive game by the Blueshirts, they come up short yet again. Another tip of the cap is deserved to Anthony Stolarz, the straightforward difference maker in tonight's game. The scoreless drought has officially ended; perhaps that will change a few things for this New York team. The Blueshirts move on to Montreal on Saturday to face the Montreal Canadiens, hoping to at last get back to their scoring ways.
