An inspired start.
More than once this season, the Leafs have struggled to start games strongly, but that wasn’t the case Thursday: Toronto was all over the Rangers in the first period, out-shot the Blueshirts 13-6 in the opening frame, and P-A Parenteau scored his 15th of the year to give the home side a 1-0 lead. Despite being severely shorthanded by the injury bug – and by the first-period ejection of heart-and-soul winger Leo Komarov after his hit on Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh – the Buds had a focus and crispness to their game that hasn’t always been there in the first 20 minutes of action.