NEW YORK (AP) – Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk and the rest of the Toronto Maple Leafs broke out of their scoring slumber with five goals in the second period against Henrik Lundqvist and wrecked the New York Rangers’ home opener with a 6-3 victory Sunday night.
Toronto mustered only five goals total in dropping its first two games of the season at home, but busted out against the Rangers, fueled by Kessel and van Riemsdyk, who both notched their first goal and first point of the season. Kessel chipped in two assists, and van Riemsdyk had one.
Defenseman Cody Franson staked the Maple Leafs to a 1-0 lead in the first during a power play, and Kessel, Nazem Kadri, van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and David Clarkson connected in the second – driving Lundqvist from the net after he stopped only 18 of 24 shots. Kessel’s goal was also on a power play, and van Riemsdyk stuffed a puck under Lundqvist on a short-handed breakaway.
Franson and Bozak both had a goal and assist, and Leo Komarov had two assists. James Reimer made 24 saves before being forced out with 13:17 remaining following a collision with Rangers forward Dominic Moore.
Rangers forward Rick Nash, who was a question mark to even play due to the impending birth of his child, tied it with a first-period goal and then left the game after the second period. Lee Stempniak brought New York to 4-2 in the second period. Derick Brassard scored with 5:41 left against backup goalie Jonathan Bernier.
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By Shah