Maple Leafs at Rangers
The New York Rangers return from the All-Star break and attempt to post their third straight home win when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. New York has been idle since last Thursday, when it edged San Jose 6-5 to salvage the finale of its four-game road trip and halt its five-game slide away from home.
Captain Ryan McDonagh scored his first two goals of the season in the victory over the Sharks, giving him points in five of his last seven contests, as the Rangers enjoyed their highest offensive output since a 6-1 triumph at Carolina on Nov. 22. While New York is sitting just out of the playoff picture, Toronto has a secure hold on third place in the Atlantic Division and is closing in on Boston for second as it carries a three-game winning streak into Thursday's matchup. Frederik Andersen made 28 saves en route to his career high-tying fourth shutout of the season as the Maple Leafs rolled past the New York Islanders 5-0 on Wednesday. Auston Matthews, who leads Toronto in both goals (23) and points (39), has tallied in four of his last five contests.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN4 (Toronto), MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (29-18-5): Travis Dermott registered the first multi-point performance of his brief career on Wednesday, recording a goal and an assist in the victory. The 21-year-old rookie defenseman, who was a second-round pick in the 2015 draft, had notched one assist in his first eight NHL contests. Fellow blue-liner Justin Holl also had a night to remember against the Islanders, netting Toronto's final tally in his NHL debut after being recalled from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis earlier in the day.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (25-20-5): Kevin Hayes had a successful return to the lineup last Thursday, recording a goal and an assist after missing six games with a leg contusion. Cody McLeod is expected to make his Rangers debut against Toronto after being claimed off waivers from Nashville last Thursday. The 33-year-old left wing recorded a goal and an assist in 23 contests with the Predators and has collected 71 tallies, 124 points and 1,524 penalty minutes in 713 career games with Colorado and Nashville.
OVERTIME
1. Rangers RW Mats Zuccarello, who leads the team in scoring (37 points), is riding a four-game assist streak and is one point shy of 300 for his career.
2. Toronto was forced to recall Holl as it was without fellow Ds Roman Polak, who was placed on injured reserve due to a viral infection, and Ron Hainsey (illness).
3. The Rangers recalled D Tony DeAngelo and C Peter Holland from Hartford of the AHL on Tuesday.