It’s an Original Six matchup tonight as the Toronto Maple Leafs come to MSG to take on the New York Rangers. The Rangers had a day to stew over their shutout loss against Carolina on Friday with the 1994 Stanley Cup winning team in attendance. The Maple Leafs took on the Montreal Canadiens on Hockey Night in Canada last night and picked up a 4-3 OT win thanks to a John “I like having a home arena” Tavares OT winner. After the Rangers no showed on Friday, head coach David Quinn went to tinkering. Vinni Lettieri is out, Neal Pionk is back in so Quinn is going with 11 forwards and seven defensemen a game after getting shut out...which...hmm. Alexander Georgiev will be in net and you should probably send him some good vibes and thoughts tonight because he’s gonna need them. Pregame updates from #NYR Coach Quinn: -Georgiev starts in net -Pionk reenters the lineup and Lettieri will come out — New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 10, 2019 As for the Leafs, they’re sticking with what worked for them last night in Montreal. How the Leafs are lining up tonight. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/VtDTkXRRoL — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 9, 2019 Instead of Freddie Andersen in net, Garret Sparks gets the nod with Toronto on the 2nd half of a back to back. So it’s an all backup matchup tonight on West 33rd street.<doc-sep>Article content TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS at NEW YORK RANGERS Sunday, 7 p.m., Madison Square Garden We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Game Day: Maple Leafs at Rangers Back to video TV: Sportsnet; Radio: 590 AM THE BIG MATCHUP Garret Sparks vs. Henrik Lundqvist The Rangers’ 3-0 loss to Carolina on Friday sums up much of their season, a great game by Lundqvist with 30 saves, but no offensive support on a team blanked five times this season. Lundqvist has struggled against Toronto in the past, but was on the bench when rookie Alexander Georgiev faced the Leafs in a 5-3 loss in Toronto on Dec. 22. Sparks is expected to make his 13th appearance in pursuit of his eighth win. FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME Manhattan transfer Though the Leafs played Saturday, this could be a favourable matchup in a back-to-back. The Rangers had been defying the experts by staying in the playoff hunt, but have lost three of their past four and are 0-4 against the Leafs since the start of last season. These teams tend to open up as well, averaging more than a combined seven goals a game in that span, which would favour the more dynamic Leafs, though not their coach.<doc-sep>NBCSN’s coverage of the 2018-19 NHL season continues with Sunday’s matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers. Coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN. You can watch the game online and on the NBC Sports app by clicking here. Despite the distractions of Auston Matthews signing his big money deal and Mitch Marner (and his agent) doing their thing when it comes to his contract demands recently, the Toronto Maple Leafs keep chugging along and piling up the wins. John Tavares‘ overtime winner help the Leafs to their fourth straight win and sixth straight game with at least a point (5-0-1). Tavares reached the 60-point mark and now has 33 goals on the year, putting him on pace for 50. If he can find twine a few extra times given that current pace, he might just tie or set the team’s franchise record, which stands at 54. Tavares has done well against the Rangers, a team he faced 44 times as a member of the New York Islanders, posting 14 goals and 26 assists in those games. While Matthews’ contract fades into the annals of hockey history, it’s Marner’s that is now taking center stage. Marner made the sweet dish to Tavares on Saturday’s winner, showing once again why he’s on par in terms of importance going forward as Matthews. Both Marner and his agent walked back on initial comments that the Leafs were low-balling the 21-year-old. who leads the lead with 66 points and 46 assists. Leafs coach Mike Babcock appears not worried about that situation seeping into the team’s fabric this season. “What he’s done is make clear that they’re not doing anything about it until the end of the season,” Babcock said last week. “So how can that be in the way of anything? Just get in there, play and not worry about it, you’ll deal with it later. I think that they’ve done that because they don’t want it to be a distraction…Mitch is going to be a lifetime Leaf.” [WATCH LIVE – COVERAGE BEGINS AT 6 P.M. ET – NBCSN] Story continues The Rangers aren’t worried about big money contracts this season, nor are they worried about how it might affect their looming playoff run. The Rangers likely won’t be in the postseason. They failed to use the inspiration of the 1994 Stanley Cup-winning team to their full advantage on Friday, dropping a 3-0 decision to the Carolina Hurricanes in a dismal effort from the Blue Shirts. Carolina was playing the second half of a back to back and New York couldn’t muster a single goal. “I thought it was a great opportunity for our guys to be around something we’re all inspired to do, win a Cup here in New York,” Rangers coach Dave Quinn said. “It’s disappointing in a lot of ways… there was definitely a lack of urgency, which is surprising. It certainly set up to be a special night, we just didn’t capitalize on it.” Despite being shut out on Friday, the Rangers top line of Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Mats Zuccarello has been one of the hottest trios in the league. Since January 12, they have combined for 41 points (19G, 22A) in the last 11 games (Zuccarello missed one game during that span). Zibanejad has been most impressive during the current run, scoring 10 goals in those 11 games, which is more than any other player in the NHL. His 18 points in that span are second only to Patrick Kane‘s 21. The line might not last past the end of the month, however, as Zuccarello’s name is once again in trade speculation this season. He’s in the final year of his current contract but would be a solid depth add for any contender. Kenny Albert (play-by-play) and Brian Boucher (‘Inside-the-Glass analyst) will have the call from Madison Square Garden. Pre-game coverage starts at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN with NHL Live, hosted by Kathryn Tappen alongside Patrick Sharp and Keith Jones.<doc-sep>Alexandar Georgiev had a career-high 55 saves on his 23rd birthday to lead the Rangers past the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-1, on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden. Mika Zibanejad, Jimmy Vesey and Adam McQuaid scored for the Rangers. Kevin Hayes added an empty-netter, and Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider each had two assists. Kasperi Kapanen scored for the Maple Leafs, who had won four in a row. Toronto had a season-high 56 shots, including 23 on four unsuccessful power plays. Georgiev is the seventh goalie in Rangers history to make 50 or more saves in a game. Henrik Lundqvist did it last year. “It was a special birthday,” Georgiev said. “I tried not to concentrate on the birthday wishes. I knew I had an important game in front of me.”<doc-sep>
Open this photo in gallery New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev defends against Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares during the first period at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 10, 2019. Noah K. Murray/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Alexandar Georgiev had a career-high 55 saves to lead the New York Rangers over the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 on Sunday night. Mika Zibanejad, Jimmy Vesey and Adam McQuaid scored for the Rangers, who finished their five-game homestand at 2-2-1. Kevin Hayes added an empty-netter, and Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider each had two assists. Kasperi Kapanen scored for the Maple Leafs, who had their four-game winning streak snapped. Story continues below advertisement Toronto had a season-high 56 shots, forcing Georgiev to be at his best throughout. He is the seventh goalie in franchise history with 50 or more saves in a game. The previous goalie to do it was Henrik Lundqvist last year. The Rangers penalty killers also helped to slow down the Maple Leafs. Toronto went 0 for 4 on the power play despite managing 23 shots. Leading 2-1 in the third period, McQuaid gave the Rangers some insurance when he scored from the point at 11:59 for his second goal of the season. The Rangers, who were blanked by Carolina on Friday, got off to a fast start against the Leafs. Kreider sent a pass from behind the net to Zuccarello, who was alone in front. Toronto backup goalie Garret Sparks stopped Zuccarello twice, but the loose puck went to Zibanejad, who scored his 23rd of the season just 28 seconds into the game. Given the early lead, Georgiev was sharp in making several stellar saves on the Maple Leafs’ power play a couple of minutes later. The Maple Leafs kept up the pressure and tied the game halfway through the period. Defenceman Tony DeAngelo had his pass intercepted by Kapanen, who skated in on a breakaway and scored his 16th of the season at 10:35. Story continues below advertisement Despite being badly outshot, the Rangers took a 2-1 lead after killing off another penalty. Ryan Strome entered the zone and sent a pass to Kreider. Kreider sent a cross-ice pass to Vesey, who wristed it past Sparks for his 12th of the season at 14:05. Zuccarello has 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 11 games since Jan. 12. ... The Maple Leafs activated forward Tyler Ennis from injured reserve, but he was scratched. He has been out since late December with an ankle injury. ... Defenceman Neal Pionk was back in the lineup and forward Vinni Lettieri was scratched by the Rangers. The Leafs’ next game is Tuesday night at Colorado as their six-game trip continues.