On February 28, 2025, the Toronto Maple Leafs faced off against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, capturing a thrilling 3-2 victory. The matchup was significant for both teams, with the Rangers vying for playoff positioning and the Maple Leafs seeking to extend their winning streak.
Matthew Knies provided the decisive moment for Toronto, breaking the third-period tie at 6:21, which followed Will Cuylle's short-handed goal for the Rangers. This victory marked Toronto's fourth consecutive win since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
The game began with the Maple Leafs taking the lead early after Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored on the power play just 1:47 minutes after the puck dropped. The Rangers quickly responded, though, with Mika Zibanejad tying the game at 1-1 with 6:52 remaining in the first period, deflecting Will Borgen's shot past Toronto's goalie, Anthony Stolarz.
Toronto regained the lead less than a minute after the second period started, as William Nylander scored his team-leading 34th goal by jamming the loose puck past Igor Shesterkin, putting the Maple Leafs up 2-1.
Cuylle's short-handed effort leveled the score again at 2-2 at 3:47 of the third, but the momentum shifted soon after as Stolarz made an impressive glove save shortly before Knies netted the game-winning goal for the Maple Leafs.
Stolarz’s performance was pivotal; he made 33 saves throughout the match, improving his record to 13-5-2 as the backup goalie. His remarkable display helped prevent the Rangers from building on their scoring momentum.
Post-game, the Rangers reflected on the loss, marking their fifth consecutive missed opportunity to string together wins this season. New York, once strong contenders, are now facing mounting pressure as they remain four points behind the teams currently holding the wild card spots—Ottawa and Detroit.
Despite showing promising moments, the Rangers struggled to capitalize on their chances, indicative of their turbulent season. This latest defeat adds to their disappointing performance after starting strong with hopes of competing effectively for playoff positions. Coach Peter Laviolette’s squad now has to grapple with injuries affecting key players, including Adam Fox, who was placed on injured reserve earlier due to what was termed as an upper-body injury sustained during play against the Islanders.
The momentum from the Rangers' previous victories, including back-to-back wins against the Islanders and Penguins, seemed to stall against the high-octane Maple Leafs squad. The stakes remain high, as every point is precious for the Rangers if they hope to secure playoff contention.
Looking forward, the Maple Leafs are set to challenge the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, carrying with them renewed confidence as they sit atop the Atlantic Division. The Rangers will host the Nashville Predators on the same day, aiming to bounce back from their recent setbacks.
The overall take from this nail-biting matchup at Madison Square Garden is clear: for the Rangers, the urgent need to regain winning form is evident, as every victory going forward could mean the difference between playoff success and early offseason plans.