Maple Leafs 4 - 2 Rangers
Final
  for this game

Leafs spoil Rangers' home opener

Oct 28, 2011 - 4:30 AM New York, NY (Sports Network) - Clarke MacArthur scored the eventual game- winner early in the third period, as the Toronto Maple Leafs ruined the New York Rangers' home opener with a 4-2 victory from the renovated Madison Square Garden.

Matthew Lombardi, Joffrey Lupul and Mike Brown also lit the lamp for the Maple Leafs, who improved to 6-2-1 on the season.

"You just want to take that momentum into the next (game)," MacArthur said.

Tim Connolly, who signed a two-year contract with Toronto this offseason, made his Maple Leafs debut. He had been out since suffering an upper-body injury during training camp.

Jonas Gustavsson got the start again with James Reimer still battling a head and neck injury. Gustavsson made 28 saves.

Dan Girardi and Michael Del Zotto scored for the Rangers, who came into the game with a record seven-game point streak in home openers dating back to the 2003-04 season.

"It's definitely disappointing. You want to come in here, especially at the start of a fresh season, and get a win in your home building," said Rangers forward Ryan Callahan. "The crowd was great, and they got us going there in the first (period). We had a good first period, but didn't follow it up with a good second or third."

Henrik Lundqvist turned aside 32-of-36 shots in defeat.

With the score tied at 1-1, Lupul jammed home a rebound just 2:11 into the third period to give Toronto the lead for good.

MacArthur made it a 3-1 game at the 6:33 mark. After the Rangers turned the puck over at Toronto's blue line, MacArthur led a 2-on-1 rush down the left side of the ice. He decided to keep the puck and his shot from the circle beat Lundqvist.

Brown's wrister from the top of the left circle with 6:06 left gave the Maple Leafs a 4-1 edge.

Del Zotto's goal with 4:34 remaining accounted for the final margin.

The Rangers gave their fans something to cheer about early on. Just 6:23 into the first period, Girardi beat Gustavsson with a shot from the top of the right circle.

New York almost had two more goals in the first stanza, but Callahan was twice called for goaltender interference.

Toronto made it a 1-1 contest at the 1:20 mark of the second period. Lombardi's shot from the left circle got past Lundqvist.

Game Notes

The Rangers took three of four from the Maple Leafs last season...New York started a six-game homestand on Thursday...Rangers defenseman Michael Sauer returned to the lineup after missing the last five games with a shoulder injury...Maple Leafs center Tyler Bozak returned to action after missing two games with a foot ailment...Toronto recalled goaltender Ben Scrivens on emergency conditions from the Toronto Marlies (AHL) and assigned forward Nazem Kadri to the same club.






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