The Maple Leafs proved on Sunday they're more than capable of getting in the way of their own winning streak.
NHL scores 2015: Mats Zuccarello dismantles Leafs again, Rangers win 9th straight
Toronto let one slip away on Sunday.
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
After a month of fits and starts to begin their season the Leafs finally managed to tape together a three-game win streak this week. It was bolstered by good effort and solid goaltending from James Reimer, who was filling in for the injured Jonathan Bernier.
But instead of riding Reimer until he faltered, coach Mike Babcock gave the reins back to Bernier when he returned on Sunday against the New York Rangers. It did not go well.
Bernier looked lost. He didn’t get any help on a 4-on-2 chance early that New York buried. His second allowed goal was particularly egregious.
He compounded those with two more disastrous mistakes that led to goals: poor tracking and a poor rebound that let Mats Zuccarello score the game winner with less than a minute left in regulation.
Both scores erased ties his teammates had worked hard for.
Considering the win was New York’s ninth in a row, it’d be easy to say the Leafs just ran into a buzzsaw. But for the first 20 minutes and a few moments later on, they had dulled the Rangers into a vulnerable position. Bernier and the Leafs squandered a chance at a statement win.
Scores
New York Rangers 4, Toronto Maple Leafs 3
3 things we learned
1. Patrick Kane quietly staged a leaderboard coup
From the first puck drop of the season, the Dallas Stars duo of Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin had a firm grip on both the NHL points and goals lead. Patrick Kane overtook both of them on Sunday, notching two points in Chicago's 3-1 win over the Flames. One of those was his seventh goal in his past seven games. Kane is doing his best to make the early Art Ross trophy race a Central Division dogfight.
2. Mike Babcock totally gave Jonathan Bernier the silent treatment on the team plane
Babcock asked about Bernier: "Reims is starting against Colorado. That's where I'm at. The bottom line is we're in the winning business."
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 16, 2015 3. Mats Zuccarello is a revelation for the Rangers
This was actually the first thing we learned but we didn’t notice because it was hard to pick out of a crowd. (Get it? He’s short.) The diminutive but highly skilled forward leads the Rangers with 18 points in 18 games after a monster performance against the Maple Leafs. Zuccarello was involved every time the Rangers broke a tie with Toronto. Babcock and his players couldn’t find a way to contain him when he was on the puck. And even when he wasn’t, Zuccarello made sure he was the first one to the rebound. Oddly enough, Zuccarello’s little hot streak started when he scored a hat trick against the Leafs in late October. It was only fitting it continued like it did on Sunday.
Impact Moment
Bad rebound or clutch positioning by Zuccarello? You be the judge.
Rookie of the Night
It has to go to Toronto Maple Leafs rookie William Nylander.
Wait, you mean he’s not in the NHL yet? Even though he’s second in AHL scoring, recorded a goal and three assists on Saturday and consistently scores beauties like these? Shouldn’t Brendan Shanahan fix this immediately? Have my unanswered rhetorical questions gotten my point across?
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