tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Rangers Get Revenge With 3-0 Win At ACC

There are times heading into a game when you know that the odds might not be looking too good. The Toronto Maple Leafs had defeated the New York Rangers twice at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers were coming off a terrible loss to the Ottawa Senators. The Leafs were coming off a tough 3-2 loss at Buffalo the night before. Well while it didn't look good before the game started it looked worse when the game was over as the Rangers manhandled the Maple Leafs 3-0.

The Rangers banged around the Leaf forwards as if they were pinballs. Toronto was unable to get their speed advantage going as the Rangers bottled up the Leafs, especially the Kessel-Connolly-Lupul line. The Rangers made sure that Kessel was shadowed by a big body all night and leads one to wonder if Brian Burke's pursuit of a big forward will intensify as a result. The only line that had any jump was that centered by Mikhail Grabovski, who has been the best Leaf in the new year.

The Rangers intense and physical forechecking caused the Leafs to cough up the puck on numerous occasions. The one highlight for the Leafs was their penalty killing as they were 100% successful. It's obvious that their more aggressive style has been successful. Success cannot describe the power play unit, firing blanks once again. It's apparent that the loss of John-Michael Liles is really hurting them. I also think that the Leafs need to put an end to a forward on the point with the first power play unit. They either have to rotate three defensemen, Dion Phaneuf, Carl Gunnarsson and Cody Franson, or put Jake Gardiner back in the lineup. It's obvious that the power play unit needs a change.

The Maple Leafs' next four games are at home with Ottawa the opponent on Tuesday night. It will be interesting to see who Coach Ron Wilson will put in goal. Wilson indicated earlier this month that he would play the goalie who was winning and he rode Jonas Gustavsson for the first 4 games of 2012. But, Gustavsson has lost two in a row and in each game there has been a soft goal. In my mind, James Reimer needs to be in goal on Tuesday night. The Leafs need to give the young 23 year-old a chance to take over.

The Leafs need to win 3 out of 4 of these next home games. In fact, these are all winnable games for the Leafs: Ottawa, Minnesota, Montreal and the Islanders. It is important that the Leafs get back on a roll. They have lost two in a row. The playoffs are there for the taking and hopefully the Leafs will grab it.