The New York Rangers announced their first regulation home win in more than three months Thursday night, defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-2 at Madison Square Garden.
Alexis Lafreniere scored the go-ahead goal on a deflection in the third period. The victory ended a troubling streak for the Rangers at their home venue.
The Rangers hadn’t won a regulation game at Madison Square Garden since defeating St. Louis on Nov. 24. That’s 19 games at home without a regulation victory.
During that stretch, they lost 13 of 18 games. Their only home wins came in overtime or shootouts.
The Rangers fell behind just 13 seconds into the game but rallied back. They’re now 8-20 in home games this season.
Jaroslav Chmelar scored his first career NHL goal minutes after Lafreniere’s go-ahead score. The milestone brought some energy to both the team and crowd during what’s been a disappointing season.
Trade Deadline Impact
Thursday’s game came on the eve of the NHL trade deadline. Several notable players sat out to avoid potential injuries before possible roster moves.
The Rangers scratched centers Vincent Trocheck and Sam Carrick. Toronto held out defenseman Oliver Ekman Larsson and forwards Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann for the second straight game.
Both teams cited roster management as the reason for the scratches.
Toronto traded center Nicolas Roy to Colorado earlier Thursday. The move came as the Maple Leafs lost their sixth consecutive game coming out of the Olympic break.
The Leafs’ nine-year playoff streak appears headed for an end.
The Rangers are likely missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Management is planning a retool of the roster.
Igor Shesterkin made 29 saves for New York. The goaltender remains the cornerstone of the organization’s future plans as general manager Chris Drury works to rebuild the roster.
What’s Next
Maple Leafs: Host Tampa Bay on Saturday night
Rangers: Visit New Jersey on Saturday
