I don’t put a ton of hockey plays out, mostly because it isn’t a sport I follow overly closely until the playoffs. And because, especially around now, the NBA is in action, the NFL has a game tonight, the World Series starts tomorrow, and College Football is basically every day. Unfortunately, the NHL tends to be put in the back seat. It has been a fun early season, though. I’ve got a play tonight, but just take this as a mild warning that hockey isn’t my best sport. Tonight we have a play on the Rangers vs. Maple Leafs game.
The New York Rangers come into this game as one of the best teams in hockey with a 7-3-1 record, but all three of their losses and the one overtime loss came on the road. They started the season rather hot, but they have cooled off a bit over the past few games. They were 6-2-0 for the year and over the past three games, they’ve gone 1-1-1. The ugliest by far was the loss to the Devils; they allowed seven goals in that game, and outside of that game, the team hasn’t allowed more than three goals in any game this season.
Adam Fox of the New York Rangers gets set for the faceoff against the Detroit Red Wings during the second period at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, on Nov. 7, 2025. (Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
In fact, their defense and goalkeeping have been their strength this season. They’ve allowed a total of just 24 goals in their games this season. Take away the seven to the Devils, and now opponents are averaging just 1.7 goals per game. Dylan Garand is expected in between the pipes tonight. He is 4-2-1 for the season and allowing 1.85 goals against per game. His save percentage is an outstanding .929 for the year. He hasn’t ever faced the Maple Leafs in his career.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are not off to a great start this season with a 5-4-2 record, and they are just 3-3-1 at home this season. They aren’t in exactly a great position either, with three losses in their past five games. However, they did win the past two games and have only allowed three goals total in the past two games. Of the six losses or overtime losses, they’ve only had one game where they lost by more than one goal. The team is averaging 3.45 goals per game, so the offense hasn’t been bad, and they are allowing only 3.09 goals. Perhaps they just need to find a way to close out games better.
Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates with the puck during the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Scotiabank Arena on March 1, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
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I really wouldn’t expect it to be a problem from the Maple Leafs. They have a talented roster with Auston Matthews leading the way – he already has 18 points this season, leading the team in all three categories. The team is likely to send out Sergei Bobrovsky to mind the net tonight. Bobrovsky is 2-3-2 for the season with a 2.96 goals-against-per-game average and a .902 save percentage. He has actually been slightly worse at home than he has on the road. Outside of his most recent game, he has allowed at least three goals in every start he has had this season.
Will Cuylle #50 and Gabe Perreault #94 of the New York Rangers celebrate after the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 1, 2026, in New York City. (Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
The Rangers and Maple Leafs are both not in an ideal situation to back either one of them. I do lean to the Rangers because Bob has been allowing more goals, more consistently than Garand. Instead of backing a team, I think it makes sense to back the under 6.5. The Rangers have been consistently limiting opponents, and it seems like this will be closer to a 3-2 win than a 4-3 or 5-4 victory for either side. Give me the under.
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