Mats Zuccarello’s goal, with 54 seconds left in the third period, gave the Rangers a hard-fought 4-3 win over the Leafs Sunday night. The Blueshirts’ ninth W in a row lifted them two points past the Canadiens into first place in the NHL’s overall standings. The Rangers also have edged past the Canadiens in goal differential, plus-25 to plus-24.
The Canadiens are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games. They have fewer wins, over that stretch, than the Rangers, Dallas, L.A., New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Washington, St. Louis, Arizona, Buffalo, Boston and Columbus.
But Vancouver is colder than the Canadiens.