Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Tavares scores twice as Maple Leafs beat Rangers 4-3

Tavares scores twice as Maple Leafs beat Rangers 4-3 | iNFOnews.ca
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev (8), defenseman Jake McCabe (22), right wing William Nylander (88), center Bobby McMann (74) and center John Tavares (91) skate toward the bench after Tavares scored during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

NEW YORK (AP) — John Tavares scored twice and an added an assist, and Anthony Stolarz made 27 saves as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the New York Rangers 4-3 on Thursday night.

Bobby McMann and Matthew Knies also scored to help Toronto win its third straight game. Jake McCabe had three assists and William Nylander contributed two.

Will Borgen, Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider scored for the Rangers, who lost their third game in a row at home in regulation and fell to 2-5-2 in their last nine overall.

Tavares opened the scoring by rocketing a high shot past Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin at 12:30 of the first period, with assists to McCabe and Nylander. The assist was Nylander’s 600th career point.

Borgen tied it with his fifth goal at 19:12, but McCann put Toronto back on top 38 seconds later with his 19th.

Tavares scores twice as Maple Leafs beat Rangers 4-3 | iNFOnews.ca
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz guards the goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Panarin tied it again with his team-leading 31st goal at 1:22 of the second before Tavares added his second of the night and 29th this season at 4:16.

Knies increased the lead to 4-2 with his 25th goal at 14:26 of the second.

Kreider made it 4-3 at 19:25 of the third.

New York has dropped the first three of a four-game homestand against teams from Canada.

Shesterkin made 24 saves and fell to 23-25-4.

Tavares scores twice as Maple Leafs beat Rangers 4-3 | iNFOnews.ca
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev (8), defenseman Jake McCabe (22), right wing William Nylander (88), center Bobby McMann (74) and center John Tavares (91) huddle after Tavares scored during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers Thursday, March 20, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Takeaways

Rangers: Dropped to 16-17-3 at home, a precipitous fall from last season when they were 30-11-0 at Madison Square Garden.

Maple Leafs: Have won three straight after a 1-4-1 stretch as they jockey with Florida and Tampa Bay for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Key moment

Tavares scored less than three minutes after Panarin tied the game early in the second, giving Toronto a momentum surge it maintained.

Tavares scores twice as Maple Leafs beat Rangers 4-3 | iNFOnews.ca
New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23), left, and goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31), right, react after Shesterkin let in a goal by Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Matthew Knies during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Key stat

Tavares reached 1,100 career points. The 34-year-old forward has 485 goals and 615 assists.

Up next

Maple Leafs: Visit the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

Rangers: Host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

Tavares scores twice as Maple Leafs beat Rangers 4-3 | iNFOnews.ca
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin skates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Tavares scores twice as Maple Leafs beat Rangers 4-3 | iNFOnews.ca
New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafrenière, center left, and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe, center right, right, collide during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Tavares scores twice as Maple Leafs beat Rangers 4-3 | iNFOnews.ca
Toronto Maple Leafs centers Bobby McMann (74) and John Tavares (91) talk during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

___

This story corrects that all four opponents on the Rangers’ homestand are from Canada, not the Western Conference.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

Allan Kreda

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles