Rielly scores twice, Maple Leafs top Rangers for fifth straight victory

TORONTO -- Morgan Rielly scored two goals and the Toronto Maple Leafs won their fifth straight game, 2-1 against the New York Rangers at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday.

"We've had a few low-scoring games lately, so it's a good sign we are winning them," Rielly said. "Here the other night (3-0 win against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday) we were probably better in the third than we were tonight, but it's a good sign we were able to hang on and I thought Jack did a great job for us tonight. He's been real solid."
Jack Campbell made 27 saves for the Maple Leafs (12-5-1), who have won 10 of 11 following a four-game skid.
"Coach (Sheldon Keefe) always brings it up that the elite teams close games out going into the third period," Campbell said. "They got one on us tonight, but we found a way to get the win and a big two points.
Dryden Hunt scored, and Igor Shesterkin made 28 saves for the Rangers (10-4-3), who had won four in a row. They lost 37 of 46 face-offs.
"If we could have played like we did in the third the whole time we would have given ourselves a better chance, but I don't think we were too bad," New York forward Ryan Strome said. "Face-offs really killed us tonight, myself included (1-for-12). It was terrible. It's frustrating because we work so hard on it and when you give a good team the puck to start, it's really hard."
Rielly gave Toronto a 1-0 lead at 3:41 of the first period with a wrist shot from the point that went past Shesterkin's glove with Michael Bunting providing a screen in the slot.
"That was kind of the pre-scout, to get in front of his eyes because he's a great goalie, so that's all I tried to do there," Bunting said. "I was able to get in his way and Morgan was able to shoot it in the net, so it was a good first goal for us."
Rielly's second goal made it 2-0 at 10:59 of the second on the power play when he pulled the puck around Jacob Trouba and shot between Shesterkin's pads.
"The second period, I think we were playing right into their hands," Rangers center Mika Zibanejad said. "We gave them way too much time and not the greatest decisions with the puck and if you give them time, they're going to take advantage. That's a good team."

New York cut it to 2-1 at 3:30 of the third period when Kaapo Kakko's shot went off Strome's skate at the side of the net and found Hunt in the slot, where he shot past Campbell's glove.
"We were bad, but I don't think it killed us by no means," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "Toronto is one of the best in the League, but that didn't determine the outcome of the game for me. It was a good game. We pushed at the end to try to get the tie and had a few good chances but fell a little short."
Toronto called timeout at 4:31 of the third period after the Rangers generated three shot attempts and two shots on the ensuing shift after Hunt's goal.
"I just felt they were really pushing for a couple of sequences in a row," Keefe said. "Our team is more than comfortable now, we've played in those situations a lot but just sitting there as a coach, they've just scored one and now they're pressing a little bit, you're going to feel pretty terrible if they tie the game and you haven't done anything.
"It was really just relax, no reason to panic, let's just breathe because we know how to play in these situations."
Campbell preserved the lead with a save against Artemi Panarin on a breakaway at 8:04. He made 13 saves in the third period.
"He's a heck of a player, fun to play against him," Campbell said. "He's super dangerous, so I'm just fortunate I got him there."
NOTES: It was Rielly's first two-goal game since Oct. 19, 2019, against the Boston Bruins. … Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews had an assist to extend his point streak to five games (two goals, five assists). … Hunt scored his first goal with the Rangers, becoming their 15th goal scorer this season. Hunt signed as a free agent July 28 after playing for the Arizona Coyotes last season. ... Strome extended his point streak to five games with an assist (one goal, five assists). … Forward Filip Chytil played his 200th NHL game, all with the Rangers. He has 36 goals and 38 assists. ... It was Campbell's 50th NHL win in his 101st game.