Igor Shesterkin made 34 saves because the New York Rangers downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 on Saturday.
Chris Kreider, with two, Alexis Lafreniere and Artemi Panarin scored for New York (4-0-1). Mika Zibanejad and Reilly Smith every had a pair of assists.
Auston Matthews replied for Toronto (3-2-0). Anthony Stolarz stopped 25 pictures.
Shesterkin made various huge stops all through the evening, together with on John Tavares and a pair off William Nylander.
Matthews, who led the NHL with 69 targets final season, broke the Russian netminder’s shutout bid within the third interval when he scored his second of 2024-25 to chop New York’s result in 2-1 earlier than Kreider and Panarin scored into the empty web.
The sport featured two of the league’s heavyweights in Leafs winger Ryan Reaves and Rangers counterpart Matt Rempe, who had a memorable battle at Scotiabank Area final season, however the bruising forwards didn’t drop the gloves.
TAKEAWAYS
The Leafs snapped an 0-for-9 run on the ability play with two targets in opposition to the Los Angeles Kings in Wednesday’s 6-2 victory, however fired blanks in opposition to the Rangers to drop to 2-for-16 in 2024-25.
The Rangers have gained their first three highway video games to start out a season for simply the third time in franchise historical past — and for the primary time in 92 years. New York additionally achieved the feat in 1927-28 and 1931-32.
KEY MOMENT
Leafs ahead Max Domi handed up a terrific alternative to shoot on a 3-on-1 within the second earlier than Kreider made it 2-0 moments afterward a delayed penalty off a slick go from Zibanejad.
KEY STAT
Lafreniere has at the least level in every of his first 5 contests to start out 2024-25, tying Tomas Sandstrom (1986-87) and Mike McEwen (1978-79) for the second-longest season-opening level streak by a Rangers participant age 23 or youthful. Darren Turcotte (1990-91) tops the checklist with an 11-game run.
UP NEXT
Maple Leafs: Conclude a four-game homestand Monday in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Rangers: Wrap up a string of three straight on the highway Tuesday once they go to the Montreal Canadiens.
