Biron stops 19, Rangers shut out Leafs
Posted January 14, 2012 10:05 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO — The New York Rangers reminded the Toronto Maple Leafs how big of a hill they have to climb in the Eastern Conference.
Backup goalie Martin Biron stopped all 19 shots he faced Saturday as the Rangers outhit and outmuscled the Maple Leafs 3-0.
It was a frustrating evening for a Leafs team that had won five straight games at Air Canada Centre. They were unable to generate many quality scoring chances on a determined Rangers team that leads the NHL with 60 points.
Mike Rupp, Brian Boyle and Derek Stepan had goals for New York (28-10-4).
Toronto was shut out for just the second time this season and saw its record fall to 22-17-5 — good for seventh in the conference. However, it would drop out of playoff position if both Washington and Pittsburgh win games Sunday.
Gustavsson earned his sixth straight start, a somewhat surprising move since he was also in net for Toronto’s 3-2 loss in Buffalo on Friday night.
The Leafs didn’t have much jump while playing the second half of the back-to-back. They managed just 12 shots on Biron through two periods and found themselves trailing 2-0 heading to the final 20 minutes.
The Rangers lead was built during a pivotal second period.
Rupp opened the scoring at 3:35, completing a lovely passing play with Stepan and Wojtek Wolski on a 3-on-1 that developed after a bad line change by Leafs defenceman Mike Komisarek.
As the period wore on, Toronto had its share of chances. Phil Kessel had an attempt ring off the crossbar while Cody Franson’s shot through traffic rang off Biron’s mask and into his glove.
Boyle gave the tight-checking Rangers an important two-goal lead at 16:28 with a long wrist shot. He pointed skyward in relief after ending a 22-game scoring drought.
The Leafs started the final period with some jump and appeared to break Biron’s shutout bid on a low shot by Tim Connolly, but video review was inconclusive and the score remained 2-0. It was just that kind of night for Toronto.
Stepan added an insurance goal with a nice deke at 6:01, taking any drama out of the final minutes. The building was nearly empty by the time the final buzzer sounded.
The only bright spots for the Leafs was that they killed off both minor penalties they were assessed. It was the sixth straight game the team hasn’t given up a goal while short-handed.
Notes: The Leafs took the warmup in camouflage sweaters on Canadian Forces Night … Brandon Dubinsky sat out for the Rangers with a sore shoulder … Toronto scratched Jay Rosehill and Jake Gardiner … Gustavsson won two previous starts at Madison Square Garden earlier this season … Biron earned an assist on Stepan’s goal … Announced attendance was 19,617.
