Rangers 3, Maple Leafs 1
NEW YORK -- Right winger Mats Zuccarello had a hat trick and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made 23 saves as the New York Rangers took care of the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.
Center Derick Brassard and left winger Rick Nash had three assists for the Rangers.
Right winger Joffrey Lupul scored for the Maple Leafs.
Maple Leafs goaltender Jonathan Bernier stopped 23 of 25 shots.
The Rangers (7-2-2) are 4-0-2 in their past six games.
The Maple Leafs (1-6-2) have lost five straight.
Zuccarello's fifth goal of the season gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 9:41 of the first period.
The Maple Leafs became confused defensively in their own zone, leading to an odd-man chance that developed from behind the goal line. Nash fed Brassard, who made a pass from the slot to the right side for Zuccarello's goal into a mostly open net.
The Rangers held a 16-15 edge in shots through two mostly uninspired periods. The Rangers earned three power plays over the first 40 minutes but mustered only three shots while the Leafs didn't draw a single penalty.
The Leafs appeared to tie the score 12 seconds into the third period when defenseman Matt Hunwick's shot squeezed through Lundqvist's legs and just across the goal line. But after the officials huddled, they waved off the goal, deeming Lupul had interfered with Lundqvist in the crease.
Leafs coach Mike Babcock challenged the call on the ice, which was upheld following a review on an iPad.
Zuccarello added his second of the game and sixth of the season 5:34 into third period with assists again going to Brassard and Nash. Brassard led a 2-on-1 rush that ended with a backhand pass and Zuccarello burying a shot from the left wing to make it 2-0.
Bernier was pulled for an extra attacker with about 2:30 remaining in the third period. Lupul scored with 1:51 remaining on a long shot by defenseman Dion Phaneuf through heavy traffic that Lupul deflected to pull Toronto to within 2-1.
Zuccarello completed the hat trick by scoring into an empty net with 48.6 seconds remaining.
NOTES: Maple Leafs C Tyler Bozak returned to the lineup after a four-game absence due to a lower-body injury. ... Maple Leafs D Jake Gardiner also returned after missing three games with an upper-body injury. Bozak and Gardiner replaced RW Brad Boyes and D Scott Harrington, respectively. ... Rangers LW Viktor Stalberg (head) missed his third straight game. Rangers coach Alain Vigneault believes he could be available Tuesday. ... Rangers D Dylan McIlrath was a healthy scratch for the 10th time in 11 games this season.