> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Recap: Leafs win over a moribund Rangers team - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/recap-leafs-rangers/ - Published: 2025-03-21T01:40:21.000Z - Updated: 2025-03-21T01:40:21.000Z - Description: New York don't want to be in the playoffs, I'd say. - Author: Cathy Squires - Tags: Game Coverage ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/2025/03/GmhPbh9a0AAU2Th-1-.jpg) ### First Period A boring period can still be a good period and can still have three goals in it. This one was boring, not really because of lack of offence, but because everyone looked like they were skating on molasses. The Leafs have an excuse, the Rangers do not. > Matthews and Marner play hot potato > > Knies gets the eventual shot [pic.twitter.com/mOeRhA6CIh](https://t.co/mOeRhA6CIh?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 20, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902862244033036540?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > Ekman-Larsson bounces back from the reverse hit and blocks the shot [pic.twitter.com/rhMGEkPoud](https://t.co/rhMGEkPoud?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 20, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902865204687540486?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > good lob pass from Shesterkin > > McCabe takes the pass away, Stolarz grabs the shot [pic.twitter.com/qUMFzfrYtb](https://t.co/qUMFzfrYtb?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 20, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902865500893483488?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > so if reverse hits don't work, it's not a penalty [pic.twitter.com/caZ6w8V2j8](https://t.co/caZ6w8V2j8?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 20, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902866987094532165?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > never mind, reverse hits aren't penalties again [pic.twitter.com/LQ9iLmYWtv](https://t.co/LQ9iLmYWtv?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 20, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902867356843463042?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) John Tavares gave us all a break from guys trying to butt-hit each other. > McCabe to Tavares > > 28th of the season [pic.twitter.com/BsZuqeWNT3](https://t.co/BsZuqeWNT3?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 20, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902868084463112462?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > Tavares and Nylander keeping the Rangers top line in their own end > > good pressure on Panarin and good neutral zone coverage from Nylander [pic.twitter.com/VLiKmFWXfK](https://t.co/VLiKmFWXfK?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 20, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902870298044559439?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > Will Borgen ties it late in the period [pic.twitter.com/YPQOMnodbo](https://t.co/YPQOMnodbo?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 20, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902870600801976370?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) More good stuff from Jake McCabe: > BOBBY MCMANN 🚨 > > Wins the puck battle, gets the slot, deflects the shot [pic.twitter.com/iYEDBZ4Gab](https://t.co/iYEDBZ4Gab?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 20, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902871103262929027?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) After one it was 2-1 Leafs. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/2025/03/20242025-21091-5v5.png) Yeah, that's a good period. And the Leafs were fine on their one power play, they just didn't score. ### Second Period The Rangers looked like they sharpened their skates and started moving in this period, but it didn't really help them, but they did strike first in the first minute and a half: > Artemi Panarin makes it 2-2 [pic.twitter.com/vCwhSTMPRg](https://t.co/vCwhSTMPRg?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 21, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902876427919516044?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Tavares got it back quickly: > JOHN TAVARES 🚨🚨 > > 1100 NHL POINTS! [pic.twitter.com/qqXVCaT4Un](https://t.co/qqXVCaT4Un?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 21, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902877776127860979?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > Jake McCabe's third assist of the game [pic.twitter.com/QpPWppSUNL](https://t.co/QpPWppSUNL?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 21, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902877917274644915?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > this is what it was about [pic.twitter.com/q3RXcloUii](https://t.co/q3RXcloUii?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 21, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902879810797363408?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > MATTHEW KNIES 🚨 > > Off the bench and let's it rip [pic.twitter.com/bDxMq47WB4](https://t.co/bDxMq47WB4?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 21, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902881648472945004?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) After two it was 4-2 Leafs. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/2025/03/20242025-21091-cfdiff-5v5.png) The Rangers staged a big comeback, but... ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/2025/03/20242025-21091-5v5--1-.png) That's terrible offence. ### Third Period The Leafs played a primarily defensive game with a lot of bottom-six minutes. They aren't doing that just because of the back-to-back, but because limiting top-six minutes down the stretch is just good thinking. > another good play from Tanev > > Panarin gets him with a hit from behind at the end [pic.twitter.com/wC360EgjBe](https://t.co/wC360EgjBe?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 21, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902892047029149822?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Matt Knies took a slashing call at the halfway point. The only meaningful shot in the power play was Mika Zibanejad hitting Stolarz right in the mask. The Leafs PK was good. > Zibanejad's shot caught Stolarz in the mask [pic.twitter.com/wVTeCBnnxp](https://t.co/wVTeCBnnxp?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 21, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902893602973331698?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Rangers finally got the puck with under three minutes to go and they pulled Shesterkin. Stolarz with some key saves. Leafs had to ice the puck to get a breather. This was the most life the Rangers had all game, and the Leafs six-on-five woes continued. The Rangers took their timeout. > best chance for Laughton to get his first [pic.twitter.com/NWd01rJEvc](https://t.co/NWd01rJEvc?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 21, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902896914351247471?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) The Rangers scored with 30 seconds left to make it 4-3. > Chris Kreider deflects Panarin's shot [pic.twitter.com/O5MgRElf2O](https://t.co/O5MgRElf2O?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [March 21, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1902897918899523750?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Matthews just missed on an ENG. Rangers were never really in this game despite the score: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/2025/03/20242025-21091-all.png) Final score was 4-3 Leafs. Next game is Saturday in Nashville.