Auston Matthews scored 58 seconds into overtime Thursday night and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the visiting New York Rangers 2-1.
The Rangers had control of the game for the first 50 seconds of overtime, then Matthews scored his team-best fourth goal on a 2-on-1 break with William Nylander.
It was a second straight victory for the Maple Leafs, who, along with the Rangers, were playing their first overtime game this season.
Matthew Knies also scored, although goaltender Anthony Stolarz was the difference for Toronto, making 28 saves.
Juuso Parssinen scored for the struggling Rangers, who had been shut out in their previous two games. Igor Shesterkin stopped 22 shots for New York.
The Maple Leafs scored their first power play goal of the season at 11:48 of the first period. Knies scored on a deflection after Nylander’s pass in territory bounced off Shesterkin’s blocker. Will Cuylle was serving a hooking penalty as the Rangers allowed their first power play goal this season.
Each team had two power plays in the first period.
The Rangers, who were shut out in their first three home games this season, had numerous chances in the first half but failed to convert. Stolarz has been a factor with accurate goaltending.
The second period started the same way for the Rangers before the game turned into a defensive struggle.
New York managed just one shot on goal during its power play in the second. Shortly after, Stolarz beat Sam Carrick at the end of a 3-on-1 rush at 16:53.
The Rangers tied it up in the third when Parssinen scored his first of the campaign at 4:51 on a rebound of Braden Schneider’s shot from the point.
Late in the third period, Stolarz made a save after his mask was removed as the Rangers kept the Maple Leafs locked in their own zone.
–Field level media
