Ryan Reaves, New York Rangers, 'proving to the league that we're a contender,' take over first place

NEW YORK — Ryan Reaves, a quick-witted forward, was brought to the New York Rangers in the offseason to provide toughness, grit, some size on the fourth line, and maybe even a few laughs on the bench.

Goals were not on that list, and the 34-year-old veteran lived up to that with zero of them in his first 32 games. Game No. 33, though, was a different story.

«I didn't really change much,» Reaves said. «I had a terrible nap (before the game) and a Red Bull, and I felt good.»

It showed.

The 6-foot-2 Reaves scored the first two goals of his Rangers career, after scoring just one last season for the Vegas Golden Knights, and New York outlasted the Toronto Maple Leafs, 6-3, in a battle of Eastern Conference elite teams.

«I've been taking my vitamins,» Reaves said.

With a Madison Square Garden crowd at a playoff pitch, the Rangers rallied from a 2-0 and a 3-1 deficit in the first period to improve to 26-10-4, pulling ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes for first place in the Metropolitan Division.

«I think we know it. I think maybe some of the league doesn't believe it, but let them keep (not) believing it,» Reaves said, when asked if the Rangers should be considered among the best teams in the league. «We're gonna keep doing our thing and, I mean, the standings don't lie.»

It wasn't all Reaves against the short-handed Maple Leafs. Chris Kreider notched his 25th goal, Ryan Strome had a goal and an assist, and Jacob Trouba and Artemi Panarin each added two assists for New York. Igor Shesterkin stopped 35 shots., including 27 over the final two periods.

Mitch Marner had a goal and an assist, and Ilya Mikheyev and Michael Bunting also scored for the Maple Leafs, who are still missing some regulars due to COVID-19 protocols. Jack