Domi, Samsonov the heroes as Leafs beat Rangers in shootout

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For those who still hold doubt about a potential playoff run by the Maple Leafs, we hope you tuned in on Saturday night.

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In a game against one of the top teams in the National Hockey League and with a playoff-type atmosphere, the Leafs turned in one of their better efforts of the 2023-24 season.

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The result was a 4-3 win in a shootout, with Max Domi scoring the deciding goal. Vincent Trocheck then had a chance to keep the Rangers in it, but hit the post.

Ilya Samsonov was brilliant in the Leafs net, getting the fans out of their seats to chant his name on several occasions. He finished with 32 saves, including a lunging stop on Artemi Panarin in overtime.

Seconds after Mitch Marner hit the outside of the Rangers’ empty net with a shot from the Leafs end, Trocheck scored the tying goal at 18:53 of the third.

John Tavares had given the Leafs a 3-2 lead at 7:17 of the third when a Calle Jarnkrok shot pinballed off the Leafs captain and past Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin.

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A terrific glove save by Samsonov on Adam Fox with under three minutes to play got the crowd out of its seats and chanting the Leafs goalie’s name.

Defenceman Ilya Lyubushkin, in his first game after being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, did not play after he absorbed a hit into the corner boards from giant Rangers rookie Matt Rempe late in the second period.

As you would imagine, the Leafs have to hope that it’s not a serious injury for Lyubushkin. And if it is, no NHL general manager will give Leafs GM Brad Treliving a break before the trade deadline comes on Friday afternoon.

William Nylander, who was benched in the first period, ran his point streak to 10 games when he tied the game midway through the second period.

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The Leafs didn’t allow the Rangers to get much during the first two periods, limiting the visitors to 16 shots on Samsonov.

TAKE A SEAT, WILLIE

Sheldon Keefe made an example of his leading scorer in the first period.

Honestly, though, Nylander didn’t give the Leafs coach much choice.

Nylander, whose 83 points are four shy of his career high set last season, didn’t see the ice again in the first period after he blew the zone right before Alexis Lafreniere scored to give New York a 1-0 lead at 11:33. Lafreniere had plenty of time to shoot as Nylander showed no hustle to get back into the defensive zone, gliding into the high slot as Lafreniere fired a shot past Samsonov.

Nylander was back taking a regular shift with Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi in the second period.

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Just when we think those kind of plays are out of Nylander’s system, we get a reminder that the lapses remain a possibility. At this point in Nylander’s career, it shouldn’t be that way.

GAME ON

The Leafs came to play from the opening faceoff, but Shesterkin matched each chance with a big save. Of the Leafs’ 12 shots on goal in the first period — none of which went in — Shesterkin’s best save was on Matthew Knies, who redirected a shot from the edge of the crease … Samsonov stretched out to stop former Leaf Jimmy Vesey on a breakaway not long after the Lafreniere goal. Vesey’s chance came after TJ Brodie put the puck on his stick … The new (and old) pairing of Morgan Rielly and Lyubushkin was on the ice for the Lafreniere goal, not that either of them was at fault … A desired fight between the Leafs’ Ryan Reaves and Rempe finally happened at 14:01 of the third. We say desired because fans booed a few times when it became clear a few times earlier that the two weren’t going to scrap despite being on the ice at the same time. When they finally dropped the gloves — fighting at centre ice, no less — the crowd roared as Reaves landed a few punches. Neither man went down before the scrap was broken up … Marner, with his second goal in 10 games, made it 1-1 at 3:54 of the second when he slipped the puck along the ice and between the legs of Shesterkin. The Rangers didn’t need much time to restore a one-goal lead when Trocheck beat Samsonov 69 seconds later … Jarnkrok had brought his usual energy on a line with Tavares and Bobby McMann after he missed the previous 13 games with a broken knuckle. Jarnkrok hadn’t played since Jan. 24 and was hurt in practice two days later. With Jarnkrok activated from injured reserve, Nick Robertson was loaned to the Toronto Marlies. Robertson, who does not require waivers to go to the minors, had one goal in his past 14 games … McMann, after the morning skate, on Jarnkrok: “You see the way he was playing before. He is fast, he works hard, he is hard on pucks, he is always on the defensive side too. He plays a good 200-foot game.” That properly summed up Jarnkrok’s impact. It was a good night for the line as a whole … Timothy Liljegren was back in the lineup after missing two games with an undisclosed injury and was among the leaders in ice time among Leafs D-men through two periods … Bertuzzi provided the necessary screen on Nylander’s goal. The puck appeared to go off a Ranger on the way to the net on Nylander’s shot, and Bertuzzi was quick to point at Nylander, indicating he did not get a piece of it …  A moment of silence was held before the game for former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who passed away on Thursday.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

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