Maple Leafs take on Rangers in a battle of surging hot teams

The Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers each find themselves on a four game winning streak, with both teams sitting only two points out of first place in their division. As the two franchise’s play each other tonight, each one will look to keep that momentum alive and make up some valuable ground on their division leaders as we approach the quarter mark of the season.

The Leafs recent winning ways go past these recent four games as well, with the team having won nine of their last ten, quickly changing the narrative from fans and media alike after a sluggish start to the season. It’s not just the fact the team is winning that’s changing the narrative either, but also how they’re doing it. Unlike previous seasons where Toronto seemed to only have one possible win condition (coming out on top in a high scoring affair), the 2021/2022 edition of the franchise seems to have added a few tricks to their playbooks, winning low scoring games, grinding out late comebacks for an OT win, and physically dominating an opponent as they did during Tuesday’s contest out-hitting the Nashville Predators 31-22 despite the Maple Leafs also leading in possession and scoring chances.

With much of the fanbase resigned to the fact that regular season success means nothing if the team once again can’t get it done in the playoffs, it’s beacon of good faith that the team has shown it is capable of winning the kind of low-scoring grind fest games that the playoffs are known for. Against the Rangers they play a team that has also found an impressive balance between skill and grit, one that has them sitting in a playoff spot, surprising many forecasters along the way.

As two young franchises with a bit of an edge and some excellent goaltending face off, tonight’s game looks to be not only a mirror matchup of sorts, but could also be a future playoff series if both teams continue their recent winning ways.