Jim Hiller dubs win over Rangers Maple Leafs’ ‘best game’ of 2026 appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are feeling it. After beating the Columbus Blue Jackets on the road, 6-2, on Tuesday, the Leafs returned home and took down the New York Rangers on Thursday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
The Maple Leafs are now on a three-game winning streak, and just had the best game of their season to date, at least in the eyes of head coach Jim Hiller.
“I really liked our game. I think that’s probably our best game of the year through 60 minutes … we didn’t have those lulls, dips,” Hiller said after the game, via Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun.
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“In fact, I thought we ended up pushing and got some momentum back. Just a really good game for us.”
The Maple Leafs struck first in the game with an Easton Cowan goal just 1:36 into the first period. Mika Zibanejad responded minutes later to tie the score at 1-1 before Teddy Blueger found the back of the net to give the Maple Leafs a 2-1 lead.
Oliver Bjorkstrand and Tye Kartye scored back-to-back goals in the second period to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead. Brandon Duhaime lit the lamp to tie the score, then Kirill Marchenko found his mark on the power play with just under a minute left in the second frame to give Toronto a 4-3 advantage.
Alexis Lafreniere leveled it all up with a goal 14:25 into the final period, but Troy Stecher made sure there wouldn’t be an overtime, as he scored the game-winning goal with 26.3 seconds left in regulation.
The Maple Leafs won the possession battle and put themselves in great scoring positions throughout the contest, recording 36 shots on goal to 25 by the Rangers. Toronto also had 14 high-danger shots to eight for the visiting team.
Toronto will look to keep it going when it faces Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday at Rogers Place.
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