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Shanahan, Rangers edge Maple Leafs in shootout

Oct 22, 2006 - 2:04 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- The New York Rangers got healthy against a team that has endured a painful start to the season.

Brendan Shanahan scored in regulation and added the game-winner in the shootout as the Rangers posted a much-needed 5-4 victory over the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs.

With the shootout still scoreless in the third round, Shanahan skated in on Andrew Raycroft and unleashed a wrist shot that beat the former Calder Trophy winner just inside the right goalpost.

"It's nice to be in a position when you're going down the ice as the last shooter to win it rather than just extend it," said Shanahan, who also added his 606th career tally and eighth this season in the first period to forge a 2-2 tie.

Nigel Dawes netted the first goal of his NHL career and Michael Nylander contributed a goal and two assists for the Rangers, who went 2-for-4 with the man advantage to avoid their fifth loss in six games.

"Any win is good," said Rangers superstar Jaromir Jagr, who had two assists. "It's tougher to get wins late in the season. Anytime you can steal two points is good."

New York goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made 34 saves through overtime before denying Mats Sundin, Alexei Ponikarovsky and Darcy Tucker in the shootout.

"It's good to get it back in the end even though they got the extra point," Lundqvist said. "But they came really strong in the last 10 minutes."

Toronto's Jeff O'Neill sent the game into overtime with a one-timer from the left faceoff circle with three minutes left in the third period.

Tucker scored twice in regulation and Ponikarovsky also tallied for the Maple Leafs, who have alternated wins and losses in all nine games this season and have only one victory in regulation.

"Bottom line is we wanted two points there," Toronto center Michael Peca said. "You're at home playing well, dictating the pace of play. You want a better result. We'll take the point and try to be better at home down the road."

Maple Leafs coach Paul Maurice was not willing to attribute the loss to his team playing for the third time in four nights.

"I wouldn't use (playing back-to-back games) as an excuse," he said. "It's a factor, but they're rested and they're ready."