The New York Rangers faced their first true test of the season Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs and passed with flying colors. In a 4-1 victory at Scotiabank Arena, the Rangers continued their hot start, improving to 4-0-1 and remaining unbeaten in regulation through the first five games.
The Rangers didn’t miss a beat despite facing a huge step up in competition. Their offense, which had averaged five goals per game over the first four contests, showed no signs of slowing down, while goalie Igor Shesterkin stood tall with 34 saves in a dominant performance.
Toronto entered the game riding a three-game win streak, and as the first playoff team from last season the Rangers have faced, they offered a legitimate measuring stick. But New York handled the challenge with poise and precision.
Head coach Peter Laviolette opted for two lineup changes despite his team’s success in back-to-back wins over the Detroit Red Wings earlier in the week. Matt Rempe returned to the fourth line, replacing Jonny Brodzinski, while defenseman Chad Ruhwedel made his season debut, stepping in for Zac Jones.
With defenseman Ryan Lindgren nearing a return from injury, Laviolette used the game as a chance to evaluate his defensive options. Laviolette faces a decision when Lindgren returns: whether to stick with rookie Victor Mancini or risk losing either Ruhwedel or Jones on waivers.
But as long as the team keeps winning, Laviolette can afford to tinker with the lineup. That flexibility is a luxury this early in the season, especially for a Rangers team with their sights set on long-term success.
Though the Rangers were on their heels during the first few minutes of the game, it didn’t take long for them to find their footing. Despite limited puck possession early on, they generated the game’s first high-quality scoring chances, forcing Toronto goalie Anthony Stolarz to make several key saves.
Alexis Lafreniere broke through in the first period, collecting a rebound and waiting out Stolarz before slipping the puck under his glove for his third goal of the season. The 2020 first-overall pick extended his point streak to five games with the goal, further cementing his strong start.
Chris Kreider doubled the lead midway through the second period, finishing off a slick pass from Mika Zibanejad to make it 2-0. Kreider, the Rangers’ longest-tenured player, was at the forefront once again, continuing to play a vital role in the team’s early success.
Toronto, determined to avoid a shutout, mounted a significant push in the third period. The Leafs peppered Shesterkin with 18 shots, but the Ranger netminder was equal to the task, denying multiple scoring opportunities, including dangerous chances from John Tavares and William Nylander.
Auston Matthews, last season’s NHL goal leader, finally managed to beat Shesterkin, finding the back of the net in the third period to cut the Rangers’ lead to 2-1. However, the equalizer from Toronto never came. The Rangers weathered the storm before Kreider and Artemi Panarin sealed the win with empty-net goals late in the game.
While the Rangers’ first four victories came against teams with weaker defensive play, this win over Toronto showcased their ability to compete against top-tier opponents. The Maple Leafs, who had snapped a power-play slump earlier in the week, went 0-for-3 against the Rangers, dropping their season efficiency to 2-for-16.
On the other hand, New York’s road dominance continued. The win marked just the third time in franchise history—and the first time in 92 years—that the Rangers have started a season by winning their first three road games. The last time they accomplished this feat was in the 1927-28 and 1931-32 seasons.
One of the game’s pivotal moments occurred in the second period when Leafs forward Max Domi passed up a golden opportunity to shoot during a 3-on-1 break. Moments later, Kreider scored to extend the Rangers’ lead to 2-0 after a beautifully timed pass from Mika Zibanejad.
An interesting note is that Alexis Lafreniere’s five-game point streak to start the season ties him for the second-longest season-opening streak by a Rangers player aged 23 or younger. He joins Tomas Sandstrom (1986-87) and Mike McEwen (1978-79) on that list, trailing only Darren Turcotte, who holds the record with an 11-game streak in the 1990-91 season.
With a perfect start to their road schedule and continued contributions from all parts of the lineup, the Rangers are proving themselves early on as one of the NHL’s most balanced teams. As they continue to rotate players and build chemistry under Laviolette, the Blueshirts look poised to maintain their winning ways as the season progresses.
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