Rangers End Home Drought vs Leafs

The win snapped a dismal stretch at Madison Square Garden for the Rangers, who had not won a home game in regulation in 19 tries over more than three months. Prior to the victory, New York had lost 13 of its last 18 games on home ice, with its only wins coming in overtime or shootouts. For the Maple Leafs, the loss marked their sixth straight defeat since the Olympic break, further jeopardizing what is currently the league's longest-active playoff streak at nine seasons. The skid has been marked by an inability to close out games, with coach Craig Berube stating he was "definitely frustrated and pissed off" with the team's lack of push. The game was played on the eve of the NHL trade deadline, and both lineups were impacted by "roster management" decisions. The Rangers scratched centers Vincent Trocheck and Sam Carrick, while Toronto held out defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and forwards Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann to safeguard against potential injuries. Alexis Lafreniere scored the go-ahead goal in the third period to break the tie for New York. A few minutes later, rookie Jaroslav Chmelar scored his first career NHL goal, providing a bright spot in what has been a challenging season for the Rangers.