Category: Maple Leafs

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (17-14-4 – 38 Points) vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS (16-13-4 – 36 Points)

DECEMBER 20, 2019 ▪ 7:00 PM EST

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN (NEW YORK, NY) ▪
TV: SPORTSNET ONTARIO ▪ RADIO: SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN

MAPLE LEAFS HISTORY versus NEW YORK RANGERS

ALL-TIME RECORD:	287-222-95-10 (614 Games)
ALL-TIME AT HOME:	168-94-39-5 (306 Games)
2018-19:	1-1-1
LAST FIVE:	3-1-1
LAST 10:	5-3-2

MAPLE LEAFS CAREER LEADERS versus NEW YORK RANGERS

GAMES PLAYED:	John Tavares (46), Jason Spezza (42), Cody Ceci (18)
GOALS:	John Tavares (14), Jason Spezza (13), Zach Hyman (5)
ASSISTS:	John Tavares (27), Jason Spezza (22), Tyson Barrie (10)
POINTS:	John Tavares (41), Jason Spezza (35), Tyson Barrie (12)
PENALTY MINUTES:	John Tavares (44), Jason Spezza (24), Zach Hyman (7)

MAPLE LEAFS – RANGERS TEAM STATS

	TORONTO	NEW YORK
GOALS FOR (Rank):	114 (t-6th)	105 (18th)
GOALS AGAINST (Rank):	110 (t-18th)	104 (14th)
POWER PLAY [%] (Rank):	19/93 [20.4%] (12th)	23/116 [19.8%] (t-14th)
PENALTY KILL [%] (Rank):	80/105 [76.1%] (26th)	93/120 [77.5%] (23rd)
SHOTS (Rank):	1169 (5th)	967 (30th)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPTS FOR (Rank):	1784 (4th)	1285 (31st)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT % (Rank):	52.6% (t-5th)	44.0% (32nd)
FACEOFF % (Rank):	52.4% (t-2nd)	46.0% (30th)

MAPLE LEAFS – RANGERS NOTES

FIRST MATCHUP BETWEEN CLUBS:	Nov. 20, 1926 vs. New York (New York 5, Toronto 1)
ALL-TIME RECORD:	287-222-95-10 (614 Games)
ALL-TIME RECORD AT HOME:	168-94-39-5 (306 Games)
ALL-TIME RECORD ON THE ROAD:	119-128-56-5 (308 Games)
LAST WIN VS. OPPONENT ON THE ROAD:	Feb. 1, 2018 (Toronto 4, New York 0)

MAPLE LEAFS MILESTONES vs. RANGERS

Tyson Barrie	300th NHL game (Dec. 31, 2016 vs. NYR)
Frederik Gauthier	100th NHL game (March 23, 2019 vs. NYR)
Zach Hyman	100th NHL game (Oct. 7, 2017 vs. NYR)
Alex Kerfoot	First NHL game (Oct. 5, 2017 (COL) at NYR) First NHL point (Assist) (Oct. 5, 2017 (COL) at NYR)
Martin Marincin	100th game as a Maple Leaf (Dec. 22, 2018 vs. NYR)
Jason Spezza	500th NHL assist (Jan. 5, 2016 (DAL) at NYR)

MAPLE LEAFS LEADERS

CATEGORY	LEADER
GOALS	21 (Matthews)
ASSISTS	20 (Marner, Rielly)
POINTS	36 (Matthews)
POWER PLAY POINTS	10 (Matthews)
SHORTHANDED POINTS	2 (Engvall, Kapanen)
PIMs	24 (Muzzin)
SHOTS	128 (Matthews)
FACEOFF WIN%	58.2% (Gauthier)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT %	55.5% (Matthews)
BLOCKED SHOTS	60 (Ceci)
TAKEAWAYS	36 (Marner)
HITS	79 (Muzzin)
TOI PER GAME	24:30 (Rielly)
PP TOI PER GAME	2:56 (Marner)
SH TOI PER GAME	3:07 (Ceci)

MAPLE LEAFS PLAYER NOTES

Frederik Andersen	– Is 9-4-0 on the road this season with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage. – Has made nine career appearances against the Rangers and is 5-2-2 with a 2.78 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.- Leads the NHL in wins (17).- Third in the NHL in saves (804) and second in even-strength saves (677).- Tied for third in the NHL in shootout saves (11).
Tyson Barrie	– Averaging 14.2 shot attempts per 60 minutes of ice time, which is the seventh-highest average among NHL defencemen who have appeared in 30 games. – Has been on the ice for the 10th-most shot attempts for (668) among NHL skaters. – Has an on-ice shot attempt differential of plus-109, which is tied for 11th among NHL defencemen.
Cody Ceci	– Has an on-ice goal differential of plus-six at even-strength, which is tied for the third highest even-strength goal differential among Toronto skaters.- 13th among NHL skaters in shorthanded time on ice (109:04).
Justin Holl	– Has started his 44.4 percent of his 5-on-5 shifts in the offensive zone, which is the lowest mark among Toronto defencemen who have appeared in at least 10 games.- Has an unblocked shot attempt percentage of 53.5 percent at 5-on-5, which is tied for the lead among Toronto defencemen who have appeared in at least 10 games.
Michael Hutchinson	– Sixth among NHL goaltenders who have appeared in fewer than 10 games in saves (197).
Zach Hyman	– Has a 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 53.7 percent, which ranks ninth among Toronto skaters who have played 10 games. – Has an on-ice goals-for percentage of 57.8 percent, which ranks second among Toronto skaters.
Kasperi Kapanen	– Has seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) in nine games against Metropolitan Division teams.- Seventh among Toronto skaters in even-strength points (6-7-13).- Has played 37.3 percent of the Maple Leafs’ shorthanded ice time, which ranks third among Toronto forwards.
Alex Kerfoot	– Tied for fifth among Toronto skaters in even-strength goals (5).- Lone Toronto forward to have recorded at least 20 hits (27) and 20 blocked shots (23) this season.
Mitch Marner	– Averaging 0.54 primary assists per game, which ranks eighth among NHLers who have appeared in at least 20 games.- Tied for first among NHLers who have appeared in 25 or fewer games in assists (20).- Tied for third in the NHL in takeaways (36). Averages 4.43 takeaways per 60 minutes of ice time, which ranks second among NHLers who have skated in at least 20 games.- Ninth among NHL forwards in shifts per game (25.6).
Auston Matthews	– Tied for third among NHL skaters in goals (21).- Second among NHL skaters in even-strength goals (16).- Tied for 12th among NHL skaters in even-strength points (16-10-26).- Tied for ninth in the NHL with 128 shots on goal.- Has an on-ice goals-for percentage of 57.6 percent at 5-on-5, which is tied for third among Toronto skaters.
Ilya Mikheyev	– Averaging 9.4 shots on goal per 60 minutes of shorthanded ice time, which is the second-highest average among NHLers who have played at least 60 shorthanded minutes.- Leads all NHL rookies in shorthanded ice time (70:26).- Ranks second among NHL rookies and is fourth among Maple Leafs in even-strength points (5-13-18).
Jake Muzzin	– Has drawn nine penalties this season, which leads Toronto defencemen and is tied for second among Maple Leafs skaters.- Averages 0:47 in ice time per shift, which is tied for the fourth-lowest average shift length among defencemen who average at least 21:00 per game in ice time.
William Nylander	– Has recorded nine primary assists, which is tied for second among Toronto skaters.  – Averages 2.12 points per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5, which ranks fifth among Maple Leafs skaters.- Has recorded six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in nine career games against the New York Rangers.
Morgan Rielly	– Tied for 15th among NHL defencemen in points (3-20-23).- Tied for 10th among NHL defencemen in even-strength points (3-14-17).- Fourth among NHL defencemen in assists recorded at 5-on-5 (13).- Ranks 12th among NHL skaters in TOI per game (24:30).- Tied for eighth among NHL skaters in shifts per game (28.5).
Jason Spezza	– Averaging 2.45 points per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5 this season, which ranks second Toronto skaters.- Averaging 1.36 primary assists per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time in 2019-20, which is the sixth-highest average among NHLers who have appeared in at least 20 games.
John Tavares	– Has 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) in 46 career games against the Rangers, which ranks ninth among active NHLers in points recorded against New York.- Averaging 16.8 shot attempts per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5, which is the fifth-highest average among NHL centres who have appeared in 20 games.- Ranks second among Maple Leafs in points (10-8-18; 20 GP) since returning to the lineup from injury on November 5. – Has a 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 55.0 percent, which ranks third among Toronto skaters who have appeared in at least 20 games.

CURRENT POINT STREAKS

Frederik Gauthier	Has goals (2) and points (2-1-3) in two consecutive games.
Mitch Marner	Has points (2-6-8) in five consecutive games.
Ilya Mikheyev	Has goals (2) in two consecutive games.
Morgan Rielly	Has assists (2) in two consecutive games.
Dmytro Timashov	Has points (1-1-2) in two consecutive games.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

Alex Kerfoot

Four points from 100 NHL points

RECENT MILESTONES

Frederik Andersen	200th NHL win (December 14 at Edmonton)

INJURY REPORT

Andreas Johnsson (Leg)	On injured reserve.
Trevor Moore (Shoulder)	On injured reserve.
	Man Games Lost: 72

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

December 19	Recalled forward Adam Brooks and defenceman Martin Marincin from the Toronto Marlies (AHL) on an emergency basis.
December 18	Loaned forward Adam Brooks and defencemen Timothy Liljegren and Martin Marincin to the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
December 17	Recalled forward Adam Brooks from the Toronto Marlies (AHL) on an emergency basis.
December 16	Recalled defencemen Timothy Liljegren and Martin Marincin from the Toronto Marlies (AHL) on an emergency basis.

RANGERS NOTES

INJURIES (67 Man-Games Lost to Injury)
Libor Hajek (knee sprain) – has missed six games

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
None

TONIGHT’S GAME The Rangers play their 34th game of the 2019-20 season and continue a three-game homestand tonight, Dec. 20, against the Toronto Maple Leafs in an Original Six matchup at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG 2, Radio: ESPN 1050 AM). New York has earned at least one point in nine of the last 13 games (7-4-2 record) and has won eight of the last 15 games (8-5-2 record). The Rangers have also earned at least one point in 14 of the last 21 games (11-7-3 record) and in 18 of the last 27 games (14-9-4 record).

RANGERS VS. MAPLE LEAFS
All-Time*: 232-280-95-7 (133-115-56-4 at home; 99-165-39-3 on the road) *Note: The first three games between the two franchises
were when the Maple Leafs franchise was called the Toronto St. Patricks. The franchise changed its name during the 1926-27
season.
2019-20: Tonight’s game is the first of three meetings between the Rangers and Maple Leafs, and the first of two meetings between
the two teams at MSG. Following tonight’s game, the Rangers and Maple Leafs will face each other on the following dates: Dec. 28
(at Toronto), Feb. 5 (at MSG).
2018-19: The Rangers posted a 2-1-0 record (1-0-0 at home; 1-1-0 on the road). Two of the three contests were decided by two or
fewer goals. Alexandar Georgiev posted a 2-1-0 record, along with a 2.01 GAA and a .956 SV% (130 saves on 136 shots) in three
appearances in the season series. Georgiev made a single-game career-high 55 saves in the Rangers’ win against Toronto on Feb.
10, 2019, and the 55 saves were also the most any Rangers goaltender has made in a game the team won in franchise history.
Georgiev also made 44 saves in the Blueshirts’ 2-1 win on Mar. 23, 2019 at Toronto, and he became the first Rangers goaltender
since expansion (1967-68) to post two 40-save wins against one opponent in the same season.
The Rangers have won eight of their last 13 games against Toronto, dating back to Feb. 10, 2015 (8-5-0 record).

RANGERS-MAPLE LEAFS CONNECTIONS
Greg McKegg was selected by Toronto in the third round (62nd overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, played in the Maple Leafs
organization for parts of four seasons (2010-11; 2012-13 – 2014-15), and skated in four NHL games with Toronto over parts of two
seasons (2013-14 and 2014-15).
The Rangers have five Ontario-born players on their roster: Greg McKegg (St. Thomas, ON), Micheal Haley (Guelph, ON), Brendan
Smith (Mimico, ON), Marc Staal (Thunder Bay, ON), and Ryan Strome (Mississauga, ON).
Brendan Shanahan played two seasons with the Rangers (2006-07 and 2007-08).
William Nylander is the son of Michael Nylander, who played two seasons with the Rangers (2005-06 and 2006-07).

Adam Brooks represented the Rangers at the 2015 Traverse City Tournament.
Ryan Strome and John Tavares were teammates with the Islanders for parts of four seasons (2013-14 – 2016-17).
Brendan Smith and John Tavares were teammates with the Toronto Marlboros Bantam AAA Team in 2003-04 and the Toronto
Marlboros Minor Midget AAA Team in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) in 2004-05.

INDIVIDUAL CAREER STATISTICS VS. MAPLE LEAFS
Alexandar Georgiev – 3 GP, 2-1-0, 2.01 GAA, .956 SV% – Georgiev has earned a win in each of his last two appearances against
the Maple Leafs, posting a 0.99 GAA and a .980 SV% (99 saves on 101 shots) in those two contests. He made a single-game
career-high 55 saves and earned a win on Feb. 10, 2019 against Toronto at MSG, and he made 44 saves to earn a win on Mar. 23,
2019 at Toronto. Georgiev has stopped 130 of 136 shots he has faced in three career appearances against the Maple Leafs.
Artemi Panarin – 10 GP, 4-8-12 – Panarin has recorded a point in eight of 10 career games against the Maple Leafs.
Chris Kreider – 16 GP, 4-10-14 – Kreider has tallied a point in each of his last four games against Toronto (one goal, five assists).
Ryan Strome – 16 GP, 3-6-9 – Strome has tallied seven points (three goals, four assists) in his last 11 games against Toronto, and
he registered the game-winning goal in overtime in the Rangers’ last game against the Maple Leafs on Mar. 23, 2019.
POINT TAKEN The Rangers have posted a 7-4-2 record in their last 13 games, dating back to Nov. 23 at Montreal. New York’s 16 points over the span are tied for the 11th-most in the NHL. In addition, the Blueshirts have posted a 13-8-3 record in their last 24 games, dating back to Oct. 29 vs. Tampa Bay. The Rangers’ 29 points over the span are tied for the 12th-most in the NHL.

YOUTH SERVED The Rangers are the only NHL team that has had eight players 21 years old or younger appear in at least one game in 2019-20. At least one Ranger who is 21 years old or younger has notched a point on 38 of the team’s last 61 goals.

WINNING WAYS The Rangers have earned 14 wins in regulation this season, which is tied for the ninth-most in the NHL, tied for the fourth-most in the Eastern Conference, and tied for the third-most in the Metropolitan Division.

BREAD AND BUTTER Either Artemi Panarin or Mika Zibanejad has registered nine of the Rangers’ last 10 goals, dating to the second period on Dec. 12 at San Jose, and at least one of the two players has tallied a point on each of the team’s 10 goals over the span. Either Panarin or Zibanejad has recorded 11 of the Blueshirts’ last 13 goals, as well as 12 of the team’s 17 goals over the last five games.

GOALS GALORE The Blueshirts have tallied three or more goals in 15 of the last 21 games and in 20 of 33 games this season. The Rangers rank 10th in the NHL in goals per game this season (3.18).

ON POINT Rangers defensemen have tallied 91 points (26 goals, 65 assists) in 2019-20. The 26 goals and 91 points by Rangers defensemen are both tied for the most in the NHL this season. Blueshirts defensemen have recorded 24.8% of the team’s goals and 31.9% of the team’s points in 2019-20, which are both the highest percentages in the NHL.

SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS The Rangers have outshot their opponent in three of the last four games and have registered 133 shots on goal (33.3 per game) while only allowing 110 shots on goal (27.5 per game) over the span. New York has recorded 30 or more shots on goal in each of the last four games and has held its opponent to fewer than 30 shots on goal in three of the last four contests.