Mitch Marner settled the overtime debate by mocking goaltender Igor Shesterkin in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 3-2 win over the New York Rangers on Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena.
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Marner needed just 19 seconds to break the suspense. After making an incursion into the opposing zone, he captivated the three opposing players by overflowing among others Artemi Panarin and K’Andre Miller before overtaking the goalkeeper by falling on the ice.
It was New York striker Filip Chytil who had given his team a one-goal lead by scoring twice rather than once in the second period in the space of four minutes.
Timothy Liljegren sent both teams into extra time late in the third period, taking advantage of a rebound after John Tavares’ shot. On the game, William Nylander got his 400th career point in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Pontus Holmberg was the other scorer in the victory.
The Leafs thus won a second straight game after losing to the Montreal Canadiens last Saturday.
The Islanders’ woes continue
In Ottawa, the New York Islanders could not put an end to their losing streak, they who suffered a sixth consecutive loss by being beaten 2-1 by the Senators.
The victory of the “Sens” was nevertheless costly. Goaltender Cam Talbot, after making 21 saves on 22 shots, injured his lower body and had to give up his position in net. As a replacement, Anton Forsberg blocked all 14 shots from the “Isles”.
Fans of the local favorites had an additional reason to be interested in this meeting since it was forward Ridly Greig’s first in the National Hockey League. The Senators’ 2020 first-round pick (28th overall) also picked up an assist.
On the power play, the Albertan fired a dangerous shot and goaltender Semyon Varlamov returned the throw. On the other side of the rink, Claude Giroux shot the disc while diving to thwart the Russian.
Shane Pinto scored Ottawa’s other goal in the first period. Giroux and defenseman Jake Sanderson finished the game with two points each.
Brock Nelson was the Islanders’ lone scorer, picking up a point in a fourth straight game, but did not allow the Big Apple representatives to win. They have only emerged victorious in one of their last 11 outings, January 14 against the Montreal Canadiens.