NEW YORK (Interstat) — The New York Rangers scored four times in the third period to break open a tie game and rout the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-2 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. The game was tied 2-2 after two periods before the Rangers’ onslaught. Will Cuylle, a Toronto native, led New York with two goals. Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere each had a goal and two assists. Igor Shesterkin made 29 saves for the win. Matias Maccelli and Easton Cowan scored for the Maple Leafs, who have lost five straight. The Rangers, who were projected to lose, improved to 24-37. Toronto fell to 27-36.

NEW YORK (Interstat) — The New York Rangers erupted for four third-period goals to turn a tight contest into a decisive 6-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. The game, tied 2-2 after two periods, was completely transformed in the final frame as the Rangers’ top players took over. The offensive outburst snapped a two-game skid for New York and extended Toronto’s losing streak to four games. Will Cuylle, a Toronto native, led the charge for the Rangers with two goals, including the game-winner. His linemates, Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière, were instrumental in the onslaught, combining for three points each. Zibanejad finished with a goal and two assists, while Lafrenière added a goal and two assists. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin was a steadying force for New York, making 29 saves on 31 shots to earn the win. His counterpart, Joseph Woll, stopped 37 of 43 shots for the Maple Leafs in a losing effort. The game began with a quick strike from the visitors. Just 13 seconds into the first period, Matias Maccelli capitalized on a Rangers turnover, taking a feed from William Nylander and beating Shesterkin with a wrist shot to give Toronto an immediate 1-0 lead. The Rangers responded midway through the period. At the 6:45 mark, Cuylle deflected a point shot from defenseman Braden Schneider past Woll to knot the score at 1-1, which held through the end of the period. Toronto regained the lead in the second period. At 10:27, rookie Easton Cowan snapped a wrist shot past Shesterkin, with assists going to Matthew Knies and John Tavares, making it 2-1 Maple Leafs. New York answered on a power play later in the frame. With Toronto’s Morgan Rielly off for hooking, defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov unleashed a wrist shot from the point that found its way through traffic at 14:29. Taylor Raddysh and Jonny Brodzinski were credited with the assists, sending the teams to the second intermission deadlocked at 2-2. The third period belonged entirely to the Rangers. They seized control just past the midway point. At 15:38, Lafrenière tipped a Zibanejad shot from the high slot to give New York its first lead of the night at 3-2. The floodgates opened from there. Just over two minutes later, at 17:51, rookie Jaroslav Chmelar scored his first NHL goal, firing a wrist shot past Woll to extend the lead to 4-2. Zibanejad put the game out of reach at 19:19, hammering a one-timer off a pass from Lafrenière on the power play to make it 5-2. Cuylle capped the scoring with his second of the night, finishing a play set up by Lafrenière and Zibanejad with just 51 seconds remaining for the 6-2 final. The Rangers’ key players dominated the scoresheet. Beyond the top line’s production, Gavrikov finished with a goal, and Brodzinski added an assist. For Toronto, star center Auston Matthews was held off the scoresheet despite four shots on goal, as the Rangers’ defense effectively limited his chances. The win improved the Rangers’ record to 24 wins and 37 losses. The Maple Leafs fell to 27 wins and 36 losses. The result was a stark reversal of the pregame projections, which heavily favored Toronto. Statistical models had given the Maple Leafs a 54.6 percent probability to win, with a projected final score of 2-1 in their favor. The Rangers will look to build on the victory when they visit the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. The Maple Leafs, mired in a slump, return home to host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, seeking to halt their losing streak. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Toronto on March 25.

Preview: Maple Leafs at Rangers, Thursday, March 5, 2026 NEW YORK (Interstat) — Two teams looking to halt slides will meet Thursday night when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Both clubs enter on losing streaks in a season that has fallen short of expectations. The Maple Leafs (27-34-0) have lost three straight, including a 3-2 shootout defeat to Philadelphia on Monday. The Rangers (23-37-0) have dropped two in a row, most recently a 5-4 overtime loss to Columbus, also on Monday. A key matchup will feature Toronto goaltender Anthony Stolarz against New York’s emerging forward Gabe Perreault. Stolarz, a player to watch for the Leafs, made 23 saves on 25 shots in the loss to Philadelphia. He will need to be sharp against Perreault, who is coming off a three-point performance (two goals, one assist) in the Rangers’ overtime loss to Columbus. The teams last met on Oct. 16, 2025, with Toronto securing a 2-1 overtime victory at home. William Nylander, who scored in Monday’s game for Toronto, was a factor in that win. The Rangers have shown recent signs of life, earning points in three of their last four games (1-1-2), including a shootout win over Pittsburgh. Conversely, the Maple Leafs have struggled defensively, allowing 18 goals during their three-game skid. According to National Statistical’s game simulator, the contest projects to be a low-scoring affair with a predicted final score of Toronto 2, New York Rangers 1. The game opens a critical stretch for both clubs as they navigate the final month of the regular season. Following this matchup, the Rangers hit the road for a game at New Jersey on Saturday. The Maple Leafs return home to host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. These teams will meet again in Toronto on March 25.