Maple Leafs Goalie Woll Stands Tall in 40-Save Performance Against Rangers

Toronto netminder Joseph Woll turned away 40 shots as the Maple Leafs defeated New York 4-3 Wednesday night. The victory officially knocked the Rangers out of playoff contention for the second consecutive year.

Toronto netminder Joseph Woll delivered a spectacular 40-save performance Wednesday evening as the Maple Leafs held off the New York Rangers 4-3 at home, officially ending New York’s playoff hopes for consecutive seasons.

The Maple Leafs jumped out to a commanding three-goal advantage before the Rangers mounted a fierce comeback attempt, using a pair of second-period power-play tallies to cut the deficit to a single goal and threatening again in the final frame.

Toronto received scoring from Jake McCabe, Nicholas Robertson, Dakota Joshua, and John Tavares to secure their second consecutive victory. Matias Maccelli contributed a pair of assists while Woll’s season-high save total preserved the win.

New York got two goals from Mika Zibanejad and a goal plus two helpers from Alexis Lafreniere, but couldn’t overcome their sixth straight defeat. The Rangers haven’t tasted victory since March 14. Adam Fox collected two assists while Igor Shesterkin made 14 stops in the losing effort.

The scoring opened when McCabe capitalized on a rebound opportunity in the slot, finishing off Maccelli’s close-range attempt at the 5:15 mark of the opening period.

Max Domi set up Robertson for the second tally, with Robertson finding the net from the left circle at 12:08 of the first frame.

Despite being outshot in the first period, the Rangers managed 14 shots compared to Toronto’s 10, reaching their 10th shot midway through the frame after recording just 10 total shots in Monday’s 2-1 loss to Ottawa.

Joshua extended Toronto’s cushion to 3-0 early in the middle period, converting from the left circle at 5:41 on a feed from Maccelli, with Woll earning the secondary assist.

The Rangers began their rally when Lafreniere scored from in close during a man advantage at 10:16 of the second, capitalizing while Simon Benoit served a roughing penalty.

Toronto’s Easton Cowan nearly restored the three-goal lead but struck iron with a wrist shot at 14:20 of the second period.

Zibanejad brought New York within one goal, scoring from the bottom of the left circle on another power play at 18:01 of the second. Lafreniere delivered the pass from the right circle while Oliver Ekman-Larsson was in the penalty box for slashing.

Max Domi hit the post early in the third period at 5:43, missing a chance to provide insurance.

Tavares did provide that insurance, scoring unassisted from the right circle at 11:57 of the final frame.

Zibanejad responded quickly with his second goal at 13:04, setting up a tense finish.

New York pulled Shesterkin for an extra attacker in the closing moments but couldn’t find the equalizer.