It was at the beginning of the second period that Nylander came free with Rangers goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin and came out of position but from a position behind the goal he put the puck against the goalkeeper.
Toronto’s John Tavares arrived and hit the puck and in an attempt to remove the happened to Rangers Urho Vaakanainen fumble it via Shesterkin. The referee rejected the case while Nylander who stood a bit away signed because it was a goal.
– I was going to shoot but I got stuck a bit so the puck ended up next to the goal. I just tried to throw the puck towards the goal and then it lay in the cage. I don’t really know what happened. I saw it walking over the line so I knew it was a goal, says Nylander according to the NHL.
Nylander TIA on Torontos through time list
The goal was Nylanders 251: AI NHL and he is now TIA on Toronto’s all time list.
At the beginning of the third period, the match was decided when first Will Cuylle acknowledged 2-2 for Rangers after playing in numerical disadvantage. A few minutes later, Matthew Knies stood in front of goal and was able to manage Auston Matthew’s opening pass and make 3-2.
Toronto lost the shots by 35-17 and Nylander thanked goalkeeper Anthony Stolz for the win.
– Stolarz is red hot. Just the way he stopped the shots today, he really stood on his head and made some really crucial rescues for us when we were badly out, says Nylander.