Ryan Strome scored 1:48 into overtime as the New York Rangers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 Saturday night to snap a five-game losing streak.
Pavel Buchnevich also scored for the Rangers and Alexandar Georgiev finished with 44 saves.
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Ryan Strome scored 1:48 into overtime as the New York Rangers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 Saturday night to snap a five-game losing streak.
On the winning goal, Andersen had just made an amazing save on Boo Nieves on a 2-on-1 but the puck went to Strome who stuffed it in from the left side of the net to give the Rangers their second win in 13 games (2-6-5).
That was all the Maple Leafs could get against Georgiev, a second-year Bulgarian who had a career-high 55 saves in New York's 4-1 win against Toronto in New York on Feb. 10.
Georgiev was busy from the get-go, forced to stop a dangerous wrist shot from Auston Matthews on the Maple Leafs' first shot. Toronto outshot New York 6-1 to start.
NOTES: The Maple Leafs gave up the opening goal for the seventh straight game (2-4-1). ... Georgiev has now stopped 130 of 136 shots in three career appearances against Toronto. ... Georgiev started for the 11th time in the Rangers' last 22 games. Four of his last six starts have gone beyond regulation. ... Toronto C Frederik Gauthier, returning after a two-game absence due to a foot injury, appeared in his 100th career NHL game. ... The Rangers were missing F Chris Kreider, F Jesper Fast, F Connor Brickley, F Fredrik Claesson and D Libor Hajek. ... The Maple Leafs were without D Jake Gardiner and D Travis Dermott.
Maple Leafs: Host Florida on Monday night.
Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) goes low to steal the puck from New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal (18) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs center Frederik Gauthier (33) and teammate Trevor Moore (42) try to keep New York Rangers center Lias Andersson (50) away from the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Zach Hyman (11) celebrates his goal against the New York Rangers during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (91) is helped off the ice after a cross-check during the third period of the team's NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers on Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Zach Hyman scored for the Maple Leafs and Frederik Andersen stopped shots.
New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev prepares to stop the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
On the winning goal, Andersen had just made an amazing save on Boo Nieves on a 2-on-1 but the puck went to Strome who stuffed it in from the left side of the net to give the Rangers their second win in 13 games (2-6-5).
Pavel Buchnevich ended a scoreless deadlock 19 seconds into the third, beating Hyman to the puck in a mass of bodies in front of Andersen after Brady Skjei's shot from a bad angle produced a fat rebound. It was Buchnevich's 18th goal of the season.
The Maple Leafs tied it 8:33 after a rush by Morgan Rielly opened up the Rangers' defense and John Tavares fed Hyman for his 19th into a wide-open net. It was Toronto's 33rd shot on the night.
New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) stops Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (91) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
That was all the Maple Leafs could get against Georgiev, a second-year Bulgarian who had a career-high 55 saves in New York's 4-1 win against Toronto in New York on Feb. 10.
Tavares was hurt later in the third, sent flying by a cross-check from Rangers defenseman Marc Staal in front of Georgiev. The star center skated off slowly, hunched in pain after finally being helped to his feet. Staal was penalized on the play. Tavares returned for the power play, almost scoring.
Toronto was coming off a 4-2 win Wednesday in Buffalo but lost for the sixth time in nine games (3-4-2).
New York Rangers center Vladislav Namestnikov (90) and teammate Brady Skjei (76) take down Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Andreas Johnsson (18) in front of the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Georgiev was busy from the get-go, forced to stop a dangerous wrist shot from Auston Matthews on the Maple Leafs' first shot. Toronto outshot New York 6-1 to start.
The Rangers began to fight back, tying the shot count at 7-7. Matthews had two more good chances on a late power play in the period. Toronto outshot the Rangers 13-11 in a sloppy first period that saw New York win just 24 percent of face-offs.
It was more of the same in the second with Toronto outshooting the visitors 9-2 to start the period. Georgiev was rock-solid, however, with a highlight-reel pad save on Hyman from point-blank range.
New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) stops Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
NOTES: The Maple Leafs gave up the opening goal for the seventh straight game (2-4-1). ... Georgiev has now stopped 130 of 136 shots in three career appearances against Toronto. ... Georgiev started for the 11th time in the Rangers' last 22 games. Four of his last six starts have gone beyond regulation. ... Toronto C Frederik Gauthier, returning after a two-game absence due to a foot injury, appeared in his 100th career NHL game. ... The Rangers were missing F Chris Kreider, F Jesper Fast, F Connor Brickley, F Fredrik Claesson and D Libor Hajek. ... The Maple Leafs were without D Jake Gardiner and D Travis Dermott.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Host Pittsburgh on Monday night.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) fails to make the shot past New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Maple Leafs: Host Florida on Monday night.
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Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) goes low to steal the puck from New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal (18) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) goes low to steal the puck from New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal (18) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs center Frederik Gauthier (33) and teammate Trevor Moore (42) try to keep New York Rangers center Lias Andersson (50) away from the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Zach Hyman (11) celebrates his goal against the New York Rangers during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (91) is helped off the ice after a cross-check during the third period of the team's NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers on Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Toronto. (Frank GunnThe Canadian Press via AP)