Music: {allcanada} MAPLE LEAFS (1-5-2) at RANGERS (6-2-2)

Thursday, October 29, 2015

{allcanada} MAPLE LEAFS (1-5-2) at RANGERS (6-2-2)

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Friday, October 30, 2015

7:00 PM ET

MAPLE LEAFS (1-5-2) at RANGERS (6-2-2)

TV: SN360, MSG

Season series: The Toronto Maple Leafs were 2-1-0 last season against the New York Rangers. The Maple Leafs scored five second-period goals to chase Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist in a 6-3 win at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 12. Leo Komarov's goal with 5:34 left in the third period gave Toronto a 5-4 win Nov. 8 at Air Canada Centre. Two goals from Mats Zuccarello, including the game-winner with 5:56 remaining in the third, led New York to a 5-4 victory on Feb. 10. Komarov and Rick Nash of the Rangers each had five points to lead all skaters.

Maple Leafs team scope: Toronto forward Tyler Bozak and defenseman Jake Gardiner each could return from lower-body injuries. Coach Mike Babcock said he'll wait until the morning skate Friday before making a final decision. Bozak practiced Thursday between Daniel Winnik and Joffrey Lupul. "Hopefully we can get some chemistry and help the guys win [Friday]," Bozak said in video posted by the Maple Leafs website. "I'm feeling really good now and just excited to get back out there." Forward Nick Spaling (undisclosed) left practice after 10 minutes and is unlikely to play. Goalie Jonathan Bernier will start the first of a back-to-back for the Maple Leafs. Toronto signed forward Rich Clune to an NHL contract Thursday and placed forward Marc Arcobello on waivers. "A year ago around this time, I was on the other side of the coin being sent down and waived," Clune said. "I never lost faith."

Rangers team scope: Coach Alain Vigneault reunited Nash, Derick Brassard and Zuccarello on the top line at practice Thursday while moving Chris Kreider and Jesper Fast back on a line centered by Derek Stepan. "There's that duo of [Stepan] and [Kreider] that's been successful for us," Vigneault told BlueshirtsUnited.com. "I wanted to go back to that, the right-handed center with [Kreider] on the left side. And Nash, Brassard and Zuccarello have had real good success in the past, so I just felt it was time to go back to that." Forward Viktor Stalberg practiced for the first time since sustaining a head injury last Saturday. Stalberg won't play but is expected to be available Tuesday against the Washington Capitals. "I'm going to give him one more day to make sure he's ready," Vigneault said. Emerson Etem remains on the fourth line at left wing. Lundqvist will start.