Toronto, ON (Sports Network) – Ruslan Fedotenko and Artem Anisimov scored 61 seconds apart in the first period, as the New York Rangers edged the Toronto Maple Leafs, 2-1, at Air Canada Centre.
Martin Biron stopped 24 shots in his first game as a member of the Rangers, who had lost three straight since opening the season with a victory at Buffalo.
Biron signed as a free agent with the Blueshirts on July 1 after playing 29 games with the Atlantic Division-rival Islanders last year. The veteran goaltender is expected to provide necessary relief for workhorse Henrik Lundqvist, who has played at least 70 games in each of the last four seasons.
“It’s a good thing for us,” said Rangers head coach John Tortorella. “It’s something we’re looking for so we don’t overuse Hank, and it gives you some flexibility as a coach at that position.”
Colby Armstrong scored a third-period goal for Toronto, which was dealt its first regulation loss of the season. The Maple Leafs have lost two in a row after winning four straight to start a campaign for the first time since 1993-94.
Jonas Gustavsson made 30 saves in defeat.
“Faceoffs make a difference, I don’t think we were good in the faceoff draw,” said Leafs center Mike Zigomanis. “I’m not the first to talk about it, so it’s obviously something I want to improve on, and as a team we want to get better at the last two games.”
Armstrong banged home the rebound of a Clarke MacArthur shot to put Toronto on the board at the 11:04 mark of the third. The Maple Leafs were awarded a power play 12 seconds later, and Biron denied Kris Versteeg on a breakaway to preserve the one-goal lead.
The Maple Leafs pulled Gustavsson late in regulation, but the equalizer never materialized.
Fedotenko crashed the crease to sweep rookie Derek Stepan’s shot over the goal line, then Anisimov skated down the slot and converted a pass from Michal Rozsival at 17:12 of the opening frame.