Blueger scores first goal for Maple Leafs as Toronto edges Rangers 5-4

Latvian hockey player Teodors Blueger scored his first goal in a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey in an NHL regular-season game. The NHL is North America's top professional hockey league. Toronto beat the New York Rangers 5-4 at home for its third consecutive win. Another Latvian, defenseman Alberts Smits, also played, representing the Rangers.

Blueger's contribution

Blueger spent 15 minutes and 18 seconds on the ice, including 56 seconds shorthanded. In the tenth minute of the first period he redirected a pass from Brandon Duhaime in front of the net to make it 2-1. The Latvian took one shot on goal, added an assist-worthy play on the scoresheet, finished with a plus-one rating and won five of ten faceoffs.

Blueger played at center on the fourth line alongside Duhaime and Zach McEwen. In the second period, a puck he intercepted led to an attack that Duhaime finished off with a rebound shot.

Smits' game

Smits played 12 minutes and 27 seconds, with 33 seconds shorthanded. He took no shots, made two hits and ended the game with a minus-one rating. He skated on the third defensive pairing with Braden Schneider.

The decisive moment

Toronto's winner came from Troy Stecher, who beat goaltender Dylan Garand with a high shot on a power play after a pass from Morgan Rielly. Less than 30 seconds remained in regulation. Toronto had not taken a lead that late since November 2021.

Duhaime was the top scorer among the winners with a goal and two assists, and McEwen added two assists. Kirill Marchenko and Easton Cowan also scored. Toronto's season record is six wins, four regulation losses and two losses after regulation.

For the Rangers, Adam Fox assisted on all four of the team's goals. Toronto goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky earned his 459th NHL career win, tying Henrik Lundqvist for the most among goaltenders born outside North America. The Rangers' record is 7-4-1.