Game #5: New York Rangers vs Toronto Maple Leafs Open Thread

After a home and home set with the Detroit Red Wings, the Rangers will continue their run of Original Six opponents tonight. Artemiy Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere and friends will look to keep their scorching hot start going north of the border as the Blueshirts clash with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the first time this season.

Years of trotting out one of the NHL's most talented teams on paper only to fall short in the postseason finally resulted in changes for the Maple Leafs. Sheldon Keefe was not retained as head coach, and veteran coach Craig Berube was brought in to instill a new type of culture in Toronto. John Tavares "stepped down" from his role as team captain, and the pending free agent ceded the role to Auston Matthews. Toronto was similar to the Rangers in that major personnel moves were expected to be made over the summer, but it's largely the same group of players taking the ice as last year for the Leafs.

Player to Watch: Artemiy Panarin

Panarin played the 2023-24 regular season at an MVP-level, and New York's top forward appears to have carried that play over into 2024-25. Panarin has recorded multiple points in all four games this season, and notched a hat trick when the Rangers last played on Thursday in the 5-2 win in Detroit. Not exactly breaking the mold to say Panarin is a player worth keeping an eye on, but in a matchup with as many highly skilled forwards as Toronto has, he'll play as big role as ever in deciding New York's fate tonight.

Enjoy the game!