Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk is shoved by Rangers defenceman Marc Staal over goaltender Henrik Lundqvist at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y., Jan. 26, 2013. (RAY STUBBLEBINE/Reuters)
NEW YORK - The Maple Leafs lost on the road, but have found their in-house goaltender.
With his best game in two starts this month and likely going back until about mid-season of 2011-12, James Reimer held Toronto in against a powerful Rangers lineup until the tilted shot clock finally gave way in the third period of an eventual 5-2 empty net goal loss.
Marc Staal jumped into a rush that caught the Leafs by surprise to tie the game midway through the third, and during a botched Leafs breakout, Staal’s shot was neatly tipped by Marian Gaborik past a screened Reimer. Brian Boyle added another on a fortunate bank shot before Gaborik potted a freebie .
