Rangers "Zuke" Maple Leafs

You don't want to be a goalie when the Rangers play the Maple Leafs. In the three games played, Leafs have won two, the teams have combined for 27 goals, nine per game. The games are played like one big shootout. The goalies might well be standing in front of firing squads. Last night the Rangers fired 39, scored five and the Leafs shot 34, scored four. Of course more were shot. A variety of misses and blocks. All in all a lively scrimmage that more resembled pond hockey.

Mats Zuccarello who has been admonished to shoot more, did, and was rewarded with two goals, 9th and 10th, including the game winner with about six minutes left in the third period. Other goal scorers were Boyle (7), Hayes (8) and Dominic Moore (5). The premiere goal scorer, Rick Nash, became a play maker notching three assists. Brassard had two assists, as did Staal. Nine different Rangers had points. It was fun. It was awful. It was two points.

Cam Talbot doesn't seem right. This is not the same guy who put up all the gaudy numbers prior to becoming number one. The high shot, over the shoulder, seems to be a problem for him. Now, I still have confidence he can do the job, maybe he needs a rest to rethink and regroup. The Leaf's goalie, James Reimer, out played Talbot, and kept the Leafs in the game especially in the first two periods when he stopped 27 of 31 shots.

But all is great when you get the two points. The Rangers are now in third in the Metro, a point behind the Pens, with two games in hand. The Rangers are four behind the first place Islanders, with two games in hand. They meet next Monday. It's getting interesting.

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