NHL Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs (36-20-2) vs. New York Rangers (29-25-4)

The Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers are set to clash on February 28, 2025, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This matchup promises to be an exciting contest between two teams with distinct strengths and recent performances.

Team Overview

• Toronto Maple Leafs: With a record of 36-20-2, the Maple Leafs have been a strong contender this season. They boast a solid road record of 16-9-2, showcasing their ability to perform under pressure away from home. Toronto’s offense has been led by William Nylander, who has tallied an impressive 33 goals and 25 assists this season. Auston Matthews has also been a key contributor, with two goals and nine assists in his last 10 games.
• New York Rangers: The Rangers, sitting at 29-25-4, have been inconsistent but remain a formidable opponent, especially at home with a 14-12-2 record. Vincent Trocheck has been a standout player for the Rangers, recording 17 goals and 21 assists. Jonathan Tanner Miller has also been in good form, contributing five goals and four assists over the past 10 games.

Recent Form

• Maple Leafs: Toronto has gone 6-4-0 in their last 10 games, averaging 3.3 goals per game while allowing 2.6 goals. Their disciplined play has been a factor, as they tend to perform well when committing fewer penalties than their opponents.
• Rangers: New York has a 5-5-0 record in their last 10 games, scoring an average of 3.2 goals per game but conceding 3.6 goals. Their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities will be crucial in this matchup.

Previous Meeting

The Rangers won the last meeting between these two teams with a convincing 4-1 victory. Chris Kreider was the star of that game, scoring two goals to lead New York to victory.

Key Factors to Watch

1. Special Teams: Both teams will need to capitalize on power-play opportunities while staying disciplined to avoid costly penalties.
2. Goaltending: Strong performances in net could be the deciding factor, especially in a game featuring two offensively capable teams.
3. Star Players: The contributions of Nylander and Matthews for Toronto, and Trocheck and Kreider for New York, will likely play a pivotal role in determining the outcome.

Toronto Maple Leafs                      – 120

New York Rangers                           6.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, February 27, 2025