GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: TORONTO (4-7) at NY RANGERS (3-6)

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">------------------------------
Toronto 0 3 --3
Ny Rangers 0 1 --1
------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: N Dawes, Nyr (hooking), 10:55.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ny Rangers, Jaromir Jagr 2 (Michal
Rozsival), 5:44. 2, Toronto, Pavel Kubina 1 (Tomas Kaberle, Jason
Blake), 8:35. 3, Toronto, John Pohl 1 (Boyd Devereaux), 15:46. 4,
Toronto, Nik Antropov 8 (Tomas Kaberle, Chad Kilger), 17:06.
Penalties: M Sundin, Tor (interference), 0:29; P Kubina, Tor
(hooking), 6:06; N Dawes, Nyr (hooking), 12:45.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------
Toronto 5 12 --17
Ny Rangers 11 12 --23
----------------------------------

Goalies : Toronto, Vesa Toskala (23 shots, 22 saves). Ny Rangers,
Henrik Lundqvist (17 shots, 14 saves). Referees: Eric Furlatt, Scott
Zelkin. Linesmen: Anthony Sericolo, Shane Heyer.</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 3
NY RANGERS 1 19:55 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 3
NY RANGERS 1 15:45 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 3
NY RANGERS 1 13:08 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 3
NY RANGERS 1 9:31 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 3
NY RANGERS 1 5:02 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 3
NY RANGERS 1 3:45 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 3
NY RANGERS 1 1:56 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO 4
NY RANGERS 1
3RD PRD: TOR - (EN) CHAD KILGER 4 (PAVEL KUBINA) 19:44</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TORONTO 0 3 1 4
NY RANGERS 0 1 0 1 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: NONE
2ND PRD: NYR - JAROMIR JAGR 2 (MICHAL ROZSIVAL) 5:44
TOR - PAVEL KUBINA 1 (TOMAS KABERLE, JASON BLAKE) 8:35
TOR - JOHN POHL 1 (BOYD DEVEREAUX) 15:46
TOR - NIK ANTROPOV 8 (TOMAS KABERLE, CHAD KILGER) 17:06
3RD PRD: TOR - (EN) CHAD KILGER 4 (PAVEL KUBINA) 19:44

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: TOR - 0 OF 2, NYR - 0 OF 3.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TOR 5 12 6 23
NYR 11 12 10 33

GOALIES: TOR - VESA TOSKALA
NYR - HENRIK LUNDQVIST

OFFICIALS: REF - ERIC FURLATT, SCOTT ZELKIN
LIN - ANTHONY SERICOLO, SHANE HEYER

ATT: 18,200</div>

 

By Larry Fleisher
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


NEW YORK (Ticker) -- For nearly a decade, the Toronto Maple Leafshave been waiting for Nik Antropov to fulfill the promise ofbeing a first-round pick. His first 12 games of 2007-08 mightindicate that their wait could be over.


Antropov capped a second-period outburst with his eighth goal ofthe season and Vesa Toskala made 32 saves to lead the MapleLeafs to a 4-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturdaynight at Madison Square Garden.


Defenseman Pavel Kubina and John Pohl also scored for Toronto,which has netted at least three goals in eight consecutivegames.


Drafted 10th overall in 1998, Antropov has been a regular inToronto's lineup since 1999 when healthy, scoring 78 times in374 career games through last season. The 27-year-old Russianscored a career-best 18 goals in 2006-07 despite playing in only54 contests due to injury.


games and has rarely played a complete campaign due to variousinjuries, including several knee surgeries


The 6-6 center, who rarely has played a complete campaign,tallied twice against Ottawa on Opening Night and scored in fourstraight games from October 11-18 before notching a pair of keyassists in Thursday's 5-2 victory at Pittsburgh.


Antropov became the sixth player in the NHL to score his eighthgoal Saturday, and his tally capped an 8:31 stretch thatcompletely reversed the momentum.


The Maple Leafs, who have the top offense in the league, hadjust five shots in a scoreless first period and did not registerone in the middle session for the first 6:58.


Already in a 1-0 hole thanks to Jaromir Jagr's off-balance wristshot from the right faceoff circle, the Maple Leafs began tocash in on their chances.


Kubina tied it at 8:35 of the session with a blast from the leftpoint that appeared to hit a defender and sail past HenrikLundqvist, ending the goaltender's shutout streak at 127minutes, 33 seconds.


Just over seven minutes later, a miscue by Lundqvist allowedToronto to take the lead for good.


After his teammates failed several times to clear the defensivezone, Lundqvist misplayed a clearing attempt behind the net.Boyd Devereaux intercepted the puck and fed Pohl, who fired ashot from the inner edge of the right circle that sneaked insidethe right goalpost for a 2-1 advantage.


Just 80 seconds later, defenseman Tomas Kaberle slid a passthrough the slot to Antropov, who swept it past Lundqvist fromthe doorstep.


That was enough for the Maple Leafs, who entered the game as theleague's worst defensive team. They allowed fewer than threegoals for just the fourth time in 12 contests and wonconsecutive games for the first time this season.


Chad Kilger scored an empty-netter in the final minute forToronto, which had lost four of six.

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Toronto 0 3 1 --4
Ny Rangers 0 1 0 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: N Dawes, Nyr (hooking), 10:55.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ny Rangers, Jaromir Jagr 2 (Michal
Rozsival), 5:44. 2, Toronto, Pavel Kubina 1 (Tomas Kaberle, Jason
Blake), 8:35. 3, Toronto, John Pohl 1 (Boyd Devereaux), 15:46. 4,
Toronto, Nik Antropov 8 (Tomas Kaberle, Chad Kilger), 17:06.
Penalties: M Sundin, Tor (interference), 0:29; P Kubina, Tor
(hooking), 6:06; N Dawes, Nyr (hooking), 12:45.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Toronto, Chad Kilger 4 (empty net) (Pavel
Kubina), 19:44. Penalties: M Stajan, Tor (hooking), 1:34.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Toronto 5 12 6 --23
Ny Rangers 11 12 10 --33
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Toronto - 0 of 2, Ny Rangers - 0 of 3. Goalies
: Toronto, Vesa Toskala (33 shots, 32 saves; record: 4-3-1). Ny
Rangers, Henrik Lundqvist (22 shots, 19 saves; record: 3-6-1). A:
18,200. Referees: Eric Furlatt, Scott Zelkin. Linesmen: Anthony
Sericolo, Shane Heyer.</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
TORONTO 4
NY RANGERS 1</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Toronto 0 3 1 --4
Ny Rangers 0 1 0 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: N Dawes, Nyr (hooking), 10:55.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ny Rangers, Jaromir Jagr 2 (Michal
Rozsival), 5:44. 2, Toronto, Pavel Kubina 1 (Tomas Kaberle, Jason
Blake), 8:35. 3, Toronto, John Pohl 1 (Boyd Devereaux), 15:46. 4,
Toronto, Nik Antropov 8 (Tomas Kaberle, Chad Kilger), 17:06.
Penalties: M Sundin, Tor (interference), 0:29; P Kubina, Tor
(hooking), 6:06; N Dawes, Nyr (hooking), 12:45.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Toronto, Chad Kilger 4 (empty net) (Pavel
Kubina), 19:44. Penalties: M Stajan, Tor (hooking), 1:34.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Toronto 5 12 6 --23
Ny Rangers 11 12 10 --33
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Toronto - 0 of 2, Ny Rangers - 0 of 3. Goalies
: Toronto, Vesa Toskala (33 shots, 32 saves; record: 4-3-1). Ny
Rangers, Henrik Lundqvist (22 shots, 19 saves; record: 3-6-1). A:
18,200. Referees: Eric Furlatt, Scott Zelkin. Linesmen: Anthony
Sericolo, Shane Heyer.</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
TORONTO 0 3 1 --4
NY RANGERS 0 1 0 --1
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: N Dawes, Nyr (hooking), 10:55.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ny Rangers, Jaromir Jagr 2 (Michal
Rozsival), 5:44. 2, Toronto, Pavel Kubina 1 (Tomas Kaberle, Jason
Blake), 8:35. 3, Toronto, John Pohl 1 (Boyd Devereaux), 15:46. 4,
Toronto, Nik Antropov 8 (Tomas Kaberle, Chad Kilger), 17:06.
Penalties: M Sundin, Tor (interference), 0:29; P Kubina, Tor
(hooking), 6:06; N Dawes, Nyr (hooking), 12:45.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Toronto, Chad Kilger 4 (empty net) (Pavel
Kubina), 19:44. Penalties: M Stajan, Tor (hooking), 1:34.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
TORONTO 5 12 6 --23
NY RANGERS 11 12 10 --33
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: TOR - 0 of 2, NYR - 0 of 3. Goalies : Toronto,
Vesa Toskala (33 shots, 32 saves; record: 4-3-1). Ny Rangers, Henrik
Lundqvist (22 shots, 19 saves; record: 3-6-1). A: 18,200. Referees:
Eric Furlatt, Scott Zelkin. Linesmen: Anthony Sericolo, Shane Heyer.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

TORONTO NY RANGERS
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
A Steen 0 0 even 2 B Shanahan 0 0 -2 4
M Sundin 0 0 +2 2 B Betts 0 0 -1 1
M Stajan 0 0 even 0 B Dubinsky 0 0 even 2
T Kaberle 0 2 +2 1 M Staal 0 0 -1 1
C Kilger 1 1 +2 1 S Gomez 0 0 even 6
J Pohl 1 0 +1 1 C Drury 0 0 -3 2
B Devereaux 0 1 +1 1 P Prucha 0 0 -1 1
A Ponikarovsky 0 0 +1 2 P Mara 0 0 -2 2
H Gill 0 0 +1 1 C Orr 0 0 -1 1
P Kubina 1 1 +3 3 M Rozsival 0 1 even 2
B Battaglia 0 0 even 0 J Strudwick 0 0 -1 0
A Stralman 0 0 -1 0 R Hollweg 0 0 even 3
S Gamache 0 0 even 0 D Girardi 0 0 -1 0
J Blake 0 1 +1 3 F Tyutin 0 0 -2 2
A Wozniewski 0 0 +3 0 J Jagr 1 0 -3 2
I White 0 0 even 1 M Malik 0 0 even 1
N Antropov 1 0 +1 1 M Hossa 0 0 +1 0
J Tlusty 0 0 even 4 N Dawes 0 0 -2 3
W Belak HEALTHY
B McCabe GROIN</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
TORONTO 4
NY RANGERS 1</div>

 

By Larry Fleisher
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


NEW YORK (Ticker) -- For nearly a decade, the Toronto Maple Leafshave been waiting for Nik Antropov to fulfill the promise ofbeing a first-round pick. His first 12 games of 2007-08 mightindicate that their wait could be over.


Antropov capped a second-period outburst with his eighth goal ofthe season and Vesa Toskala made 32 saves to lead the MapleLeafs to a 4-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturdaynight at Madison Square Garden.


Defenseman Pavel Kubina and John Pohl also scored for Toronto,which has netted at least three goals in eight consecutivegames.


Drafted 10th overall in 1998, Antropov has been a regular inToronto's lineup since 1999 when healthy, scoring 78 times in374 career games through last season. The 27-year-old Russianscored a career-best 18 goals in 2006-07 despite playing in only54 contests due to injury.


The 6-6 center, who rarely has played a complete campaign,tallied twice against Ottawa on Opening Night and scored in fourstraight games from October 11-18 before notching a pair of keyassists in Thursday's 5-2 victory at Pittsburgh.


Antropov became the sixth player in the NHL to score his eighthgoal Saturday, and his tally capped an 8:31 stretch thatcompletely reversed the momentum.


"There's probably three or four factors to this," Toronto coachPaul Maurice said. "One is he's on the ice. He's healthy, hedidn't miss training camp. He put a lot of work into hissummertime, so he's fit and strong and now he has confidence. Sothe minutes that he plays, he feels good about himself outthere.


"The whole team expects certain offensive things from him, so hedoes as well. I think it's not just any one thing but beinghealthy, feeling good, being in good shape and then gettingminutes to do something with."


The Maple Leafs, who have the top offense in the league, hadjust five shots in a scoreless first period and did not registerone in the middle session for the first 6:58 but remained closethanks to Toskala.


"The Rangers have struggled, so you know they're going to comeout fast the first 10-15 minutes, and we did a great job playingthrough that," Toronto captain Mats Sundin said. "After that,I thought we played better and better."


Already in a 1-0 hole thanks to Jaromir Jagr's off-balance wristshot from the right faceoff circle, the Maple Leafs began tocash in on their chances.


Kubina tied it at 8:35 of the session with a blast from the leftpoint that appeared to hit a defender and sail past HenrikLundqvist, ending the goaltender's shutout streak at 127minutes, 33 seconds.


Just over seven minutes later, a miscue by Lundqvist allowedToronto to take the lead for good.


After his teammates failed several times to clear the defensivezone, Lundqvist misplayed a clearing attempt behind the net.Boyd Devereaux intercepted the puck and fed Pohl, who fired ashot from the inner edge of the right circle that sneaked insidethe right goalpost for a 2-1 advantage.


Just 80 seconds later, defenseman Tomas Kaberle slid a passthrough the slot to Antropov, who swept it past Lundqvist fromthe doorstep.


"In the second period, we started off really well," Lundqvistsaid. "But then for 8-10 minutes, they took over and tookadvantage of our mistakes out there."


That was enough for the Maple Leafs, who entered the game as theleague's worst defensive team. They allowed fewer than threegoals for just the fourth time in 12 contests and wonconsecutive games for the first time this season.


"We played two solid road games," said Kubina, who also had anassist. "We've been working on our defensive game, especiallydown in our zone, and it's paid off for us."


Chad Kilger scored an empty-netter in the final minute forToronto, which had lost four of six.


Rangers coach Tom Renney liked many aspects of his team'sperformance but also felt it became tight once the Maple Leafstied the game.


"When they scored their first goal, we seemed to all of a suddenget very tight," Renney said. "We missed assignments and weweren't on the right side of people. We got spread out andstretched out. From that point on, those next few minutes, atleast, that's the hockey game."


Despite registering at least 30 shots for the third straightgame and eighth overall, New York ran into another goodgoaltending performance and fell to 1-4-1 in its last sixcontests.


"We have to score more goals to win hockey games," Jagr said."Hank can't stop all the shots. It's too much pressure forhim."

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Toronto 0 3 1 --4
Ny Rangers 0 1 0 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: N Dawes, Nyr (hooking), 10:55.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ny Rangers, Jaromir Jagr 2 (Michal
Rozsival), 5:44. 2, Toronto, Pavel Kubina 1 (Tomas Kaberle, Jason
Blake), 8:35. 3, Toronto, John Pohl 1 (Boyd Devereaux), 15:46. 4,
Toronto, Nik Antropov 8 (Tomas Kaberle, Chad Kilger), 17:06.
Penalties: M Sundin, Tor (interference), 0:29; P Kubina, Tor
(hooking), 6:06; N Dawes, Nyr (hooking), 12:45.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Toronto, Chad Kilger 4 (empty net) (Pavel
Kubina), 19:44. Penalties: M Stajan, Tor (hooking), 1:34.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Toronto 5 12 6 --23
Ny Rangers 11 12 10 --33
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Toronto - 0 of 2, Ny Rangers - 0 of 3. Goalies
: Toronto, Vesa Toskala (33 shots, 32 saves; record: 4-3-1). Ny
Rangers, Henrik Lundqvist (22 shots, 19 saves; record: 3-6-1). A:
18,200. Referees: Eric Furlatt, Scott Zelkin. Linesmen: Anthony
Sericolo, Shane Heyer.</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
TORONTO 0 3 1 --4
NY RANGERS 0 1 0 --1
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: N Dawes, Nyr (hooking), 10:55.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ny Rangers, Jaromir Jagr 2 (Michal
Rozsival), 5:44. 2, Toronto, Pavel Kubina 1 (Tomas Kaberle, Jason
Blake), 8:35. 3, Toronto, John Pohl 1 (Boyd Devereaux), 15:46. 4,
Toronto, Nik Antropov 8 (Tomas Kaberle, Chad Kilger), 17:06.
Penalties: M Sundin, Tor (interference), 0:29; P Kubina, Tor
(hooking), 6:06; N Dawes, Nyr (hooking), 12:45.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Toronto, Chad Kilger 4 (empty net) (Pavel
Kubina), 19:44. Penalties: M Stajan, Tor (hooking), 1:34.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
TORONTO 5 12 6 --23
NY RANGERS 11 12 10 --33
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: TOR - 0 of 2, NYR - 0 of 3. Goalies : Toronto,
Vesa Toskala (33 shots, 32 saves; record: 4-3-1). Ny Rangers, Henrik
Lundqvist (22 shots, 19 saves; record: 3-6-1). A: 18,200. Referees:
Eric Furlatt, Scott Zelkin. Linesmen: Anthony Sericolo, Shane Heyer.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

TORONTO NY RANGERS
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
A Steen 0 0 even 2 B Shanahan 0 0 -2 4
M Sundin 0 0 +2 2 B Betts 0 0 -1 1
M Stajan 0 0 even 0 B Dubinsky 0 0 even 2
T Kaberle 0 2 +2 1 M Staal 0 0 -1 1
C Kilger 1 1 +2 1 S Gomez 0 0 even 6
J Pohl 1 0 +1 1 C Drury 0 0 -3 2
B Devereaux 0 1 +1 1 P Prucha 0 0 -1 1
A Ponikarovsky 0 0 +1 2 P Mara 0 0 -2 2
H Gill 0 0 +1 1 C Orr 0 0 -1 1
P Kubina 1 1 +3 3 M Rozsival 0 1 even 2
B Battaglia 0 0 even 0 J Strudwick 0 0 -1 0
A Stralman 0 0 -1 0 R Hollweg 0 0 even 3
S Gamache 0 0 even 0 D Girardi 0 0 -1 0
J Blake 0 1 +1 3 F Tyutin 0 0 -2 2
A Wozniewski 0 0 +1 0 J Jagr 1 0 even 2
I White 0 0 even 1 M Malik 0 0 even 1
N Antropov 1 0 +1 1 M Hossa 0 0 +1 0
J Tlusty 0 0 even 4 N Dawes 0 0 -2 3
W Belak HEALTHY
B McCabe GROIN</div>

 

NHL: TORONTO at NY RANGERS

<div class="pre">NHL TORONTO AT NY RANGERS
NOTE: RESENDING TO CORRECT PLUS/MINUS FOR WOZNIEWSKI AND
JAGR.</div>