New York Rangers look to bounce back against Toronto Maple Leafs - NHL Preview
New York Rangers face the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, March 24, 2012, at the Air Canada Centre.
The Rangers remain top of the Eastern Conference even after struggling for results and have qualified for the playoffs.
However, their lead at the top of the conference has now been reduced to just a single point with the inform Pittsburgh Penguins right on their heels in the Atlantic Division.
The Rangers will look to get back to winning ways and increase their lead at the top when they face a struggling Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Leafs are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference with 74-points with their playoff hopes all but dashed.
Toronto trail eighth placed Washington Capitals by eight points and with just seven-games left and given their current form it seems improbable that they will make it to the postseason.
Rangers (46-21-7, 99 pts)
New York’s two-game winning run ended on Friday when they were completely dominated by the Buffalo Sabres and lost 4-1 at home ice.
The Rangers were woeful against the Sabres.
Buffalo were up 2-1 in the second period and put the game to bed in the third with two goals to comfortably win their encounter against the Eastern Conference leaders.
Centre Brian Boyle said after the game.
"We just need to play how we need to play. We didn't focus on (points) all year and we shouldn't now. Just focus on being the best team we can."
The Rangers though will be confident of bouncing right back from the defeat against Toronto.
Maple Leafs (33-34-8, 74 pts)
Toronto has been woeful lately with big defeats throughout the month which have all but ended their bid to make the playoffs.
The Leafs ended a two-game skid against the New Jersey Devils last time out after winning 4-3 in the shootout.
Toronto were up 2-0 in the second period but the Devils pegged back a goal right at the end.
In the third the Leafs went up 3-1 through David Steckel but allowed New Jersey to fight back and tie the game with two goals five minutes apart.
It took a shootout for the Leafs to win the game Nazem Kadri scored the winner.
Predictions
New York Rangers will be favourites for the win.
Sum of goals will be less than six.
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