Game Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs vs New York Rangers
By Tim Chiasson
Feb 7, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly (44) carries the puck against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Analytics Report
[table id=50 /]
As expected, the Rangers are ahead.
The Rangers don’t have out of this world numbers, they’re largely average, but they get the job done. They trade shot attempts back and forth at a similar rate.
The difference is their skill allows them to take over the scoresheet.
Toronto is consistently hemmed in their own zone and that will be a problem with Rick Nash and Marty St Louis floating around the ice.
The Leafs need to pull their possession up to at least 50% in this game or they will be in serious trouble all night long.
They need to allow Morgan Rielly to drive the play from the back end. Rielly has elite puck moving capabilities and should have the puck on each and every defensive zone exit.
The Leafs have been trending their shooting percentage back up after a large drought and that needs to continue tonight. The Leafs top unit of Kessel-Bozak-JVR will need to find the back of the net and lead the scoring.
The game could go either way, a tight battle – or a total blowout.