Preview and GDT: Leafs at Rangers (7 p.m., CBC)

by Alec Brownscombe on January 26, 2013 in Game Day - 1,374 Comments

How’s the saying go? Shit happens, it’s how you react to the shit that counts? While the loss on Thursday was riddled with familiar Leaf flaws and more than a little concerning, we had seen much better from a defensive standpoint in the three games prior.

Tonight the team is at the MSG to take on the 1-3 Rangers. Despite their plethora of offensive weapons, the Blueshirts have only scored two goals a game on average in their opening four and have been struggling with the man advantage (11%). The fearful Leafs fan in all of us sees a talented, hungry and frustrated team that’s ready to break out of it at home on a Saturday night, but let’s hope the Leafs can reproduce some of their 2011-12 road success against the Rangers.

The Leafs had a pair of 4-2 wins in New York in the first half of last season where they shut them down pretty well and solved Lundqvist with surprising ease. John Tortorella spoke about his team’s difficulty dealing with the Leafs’ speed off the rush. Lupul was instrumental in the two wins and named the first star in both, scoring twice and registering 13 shots.

The Leafs of course were much less successful against them in the back half of the season, losing twice at home by a collective score of 7-3. That season series matches the home/away pattern of the current season, with the Leafs 2-0 as the visitors and 0-2 at the ACC.

James Reimer gets the start in a big chance given the circumstances – Scrivens was awful Thursday – and it’s one Leafs fans are praying he takes.

Mike Komisarek and Mark Fraser both enter the lineup in the place of the recently demoted Jake Gardiner and presumably Cody Franson.

The lineup the Leafs are facing tonight:

Rick Nash – Brad Richards – Marian Gaborik
Taylor Pyatt – Derek Stepan – Ryan Callahan
Michael Rupp – Brian Boyle – Carl Hagelin
Jeff Halpern – Benn Ferriero – Arron Asham

Ryan McDonagh – Dan Girardi
Marc Staal – Michael Del Zotto
Steve Eminger – Anton Stralman

Henrik Lundqvist

Shredded Mexican Chicken Quesedillas

· 4 chicken breasts (2 lbs)

· 1 packet taco seasoning

· 1 16oz jar of hot salsa

· Tortilla wraps

· Green onion

· 1 bag Shredded Cheese

· 2 jalapenos chopped

· 1 green pepper chopped

· Sour cream

· Extra salsa

· Fresh cilantro

· 1 can refried beans

Directions

• Place chicken, taco seasoning and salsa in a slowcooker and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours on low or 2 to 3 hours on high. When done, shred with a fork.
• Pre-heat element to med-low.
• Sprinkle cheese on one tortilla, spoon on meat, green onion and peppers in the quantity desired. Add more cheese to the top and then add another tortilla. Place in a large frying pan and cook the tortilla until crispy on one side. Flip and repeat. Cut into slices and serve with sour cream, salsa, cilantro and refried beans.

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Tags: New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs Print article