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Kulemin, Toskala help Maple Leafs spoil Tortorella's debut in shootout

Feb 26, 2009 - 4:24 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- New coach, similar problems for the New York Rangers.

Nikolai Kulemin scored the lone goal in shootout and Vesa Toskala denied all three attempts as the Toronto Maple Leafs spoiled John Tortorella's debut with a 2-1 victory over the Rangers on Wednesday in the conclusion of a home-and-home series.

"This is what you'll see from Rangers," Toronto coach Ron Wilson said. "They'll get challenged by their coach and they'll hate it, but it's not a popularity contest."

Kulemin also collected an assist on Niklas Hagman's goal in regulation and Toskala made 31 saves before the bonus format for the Maple Leafs, who went 3-0-1 against the Rangers this season despite not scoring in either the first or second periods in any of those contests.

Defenseman Wade Redden netted his first goal in over four months and All-Star Henrik Lundqvist stopped 23 shots for New York, which has lost 11 of its last 13 contests (2-7-4).

Tortorella, who won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004, replaced Tom Renney on Monday - just one day after the Rangers lost to the Maple Leafs in overtime at Madison Square Garden.

"I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I'm a little concerned about the conditioning of the club," Tortorella said. "I thought we looked tired in the third period. If we're going to try to play an attacking style, we need to be in shape."

"We knew they changed the coach and it shows," Hagman said. "Obviously, they played desperate and they played pretty well. We could have played a little better."

Kulemin, who was denied on a breakaway in the extra session, opened the shootout by beating Lundqvist with a quick snap shot to the stick side.

"It won us the game," Maple Leafs defenseman Ian White said. "(Kulemin's) got great hands and put a great move on a great goaltender, so great for him."

The early advantage was all Toronto needed thanks to Toskala, who stopped Markus Naslund, captain Chris Drury and Nikolai Zherdev to secure the win.

"He's been solid lately," Hagman said of Toskala, who has not lost in regulation since January 19. "Now, he's been playing really good. He's playing with confidence."

One of the Rangers' prize acquisitions this offseason, Redden has been the target of some animosity from fans because of his lack of production. The 31-year-old scored his first goal in 58 games with 9:34 remaining in the middle session.

On a man advantage, Redden took a pass from fellow blue-liner Michal Rozsival at the right point and fired a slap shot past Toskala for his third goal of the season and first since October 10.

Hagman, who scored the overtime game-winner in Sunday's 3-2 triumph over the Rangers, leveled the contest at 1-1 with 9:39 left in the third period. He took a pass from Mikhail Grabovski, deked a New York defender and fired a wrist shot over Lundqvist's glove.

"I thought we sagged in the third period," Tortorella said. "We did some really good things forechecking, but it's just that we're not able to get that next goal."