Toronto Maple Leafs @ New York Rangers
07:00 PM at Madison Square Garden
Watch on: SNO, MSG 2

The Leafs last game was at home on March 19 against the Colorado Avalanche, which Toronto won by a score of 2-1 in regulation. The Leafs have a record of 41-24-3 for a 0.625 Points %.

The New York Rangers last played at home on March 18 against the Calgary Flames. The Rangers lost by a score of 2-1 in regulation, and their current league record is 33-30-6 for a 0.522 Points %.

Them

What's up with the Rangers? There are two other teams at 0.522 in Points %, and all three of them sit just out of a playoff spot by points. Two points in the Rangers' case. Not that getting two points settles anything, there needs to be a lot more games played before the wild cards winners are known. But why are the Rangers in a group with Columbus and Montréal?

They have the best goal differential of any team contesting for the last playoff spot and the most regulation wins. Those are hints they aren't falling backwards into this spot. However, they have some obvious issues keeping them from charging straight ahead.

Their five-on-five Corsi is right at Leafs level (so below average by a hair), but the Rangers are worse at Expected Goals. Their team Save % in all-situations is identical to the Leafs – often erroneously thought to be stellar. Both teams are at .900 which counts as very good, but not elite.

The Rangers power play is identical to the Leafs in Expected Goals rate – so very good – they just don't score. They don't score enough overall. And that's really their entire problem. Just slightly better goaltending, and they might be solidly in the playoffs. Slightly better scoring and ditto. Their roster doesn't look like it can produce the goals they need, however.

On paper, they should beat out most of their competition for the right to play Washington in the first round, but they have to win at a little bit higher pace for their last 13 games to get there.

Rangers had an optional skate, so no new lines.

Lines

Last Game (2025-03-18) via Daily Faceoff

Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Will Cuylle
Alexis Lafrenière - J.T. Miller - Mika Zibanejad
Chris Kreider - Sam Carrick - Juuso Parssinen
Brett Berard - Jonny Brodzinski - Matt Rempe

K'Andre Miller - Will Borgen
Urho Vaakanainen - Adam Fox
Zac Jones - Braden Schneider

Igor Shesterkin - confirmed starter
Jonathan Quick

Us

Coming off a back-to-back with travel, there aren't many changes to the roster the Leafs can make. Extras are Phil Myers and David Kämpf.

Lines

Last Game (2025-03-19) via Daily Faceoff

Matthew Knies - Auston Matthews - Mitch Marner
Calle Järnkrok - John Tavares - William Nylander
Bobby McMann - Max Domi - Nicholas Robertson
Steven Lorentz - Scott Laughton - Pontus Holmberg

Morgan Rielly - Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe - Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit - Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Anthony Stolarz - starter
Joe Woll

The Game

Like the Flames, the Rangers aren't known for winning via puck possession or playing a tight five-on-five defensive game. The Leafs need to bring their better scoring and win it in the offensive zone.

Game Coverage