Matthew Knies broke a tie 6:21 into the third period, and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 at Madison Square Garden in New York on Friday.

With 23 games remaining in the regular season, the Rangers (29-26-4, 62 points) remain four points behind the Blue Jackets and Red Wings.

Matthew Knies scored the tiebreaking goal with 13:39 left following a misplay behind the net by goaltender Igor Shesterkin as the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs recorded a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Friday.

Matthew Knies broke a third-period tie, Anthony Stolarz made 33 saves and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the New York Rangers 3-2 on Friday night. Knies scored his 22nd goal at 6:21 of the third, less than three minutes after Will Cuylle tied it for New York with a short-handed goal.

Friday night’s 3-2 loss to the Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden counted as the fifth consecutive time the Blueshirts whiffed on an opportunity to stack three wins in a row, which deprived them of a crucial two points with their surrounding teams in the Eastern Conference wild-card race dormant for the night.

The New York Rangers open a four-game homestand and close out February, on Friday night when they face the Toronto Maple Leafs (7:00 PM ET - TV: MSG 2 - Radio: ESPN 1050 AM). RANGERS RUNDOWN - The Blu

Matthew Knies broke a third-period tie, Anthony Stolarz made 33 saves and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the New York Rangers 3-2 on Friday night.