TORONTO – Max Domi understands better than most what it means to be a tough guy in the NHL.
After witnessing two strong players fight at center ice on Saturday, he used his skills in a different way to secure the extra point.
The Maple Leafs center scored the winning shot in the shootout on a night that saw teammate Ryan Reaves fight with massive Rangers rookie Matt Rempe in a highly anticipated fight as Toronto defeated New York 4-3.
Domi fired a shot past Igor Shesterkin in the fourth round after Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad and Leafs player Mitch Marner traded goals.
New York’s Vincent Trocheck then hit the post on Toronto goaltender Ilya Samsonov to seal the victory.
“Tie game going into the third, tie game going into overtime against a really good team,” Domi said. “You’ve gotta have the confidence when the pressure’s on.”
Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander had the goals in regulation for Toronto (35-17-8). Samsonov stopped 32 shots through 65 minutes.
Trocheck scored twice for New York (40-17-4), with Alexis Lafreniere adding a goal and two assists, and Artemi Panarin contributing two assists. Shesterkin made 31 saves.
“Anything can happen in a shootout,” Trocheck said. “Good to get a point.”
With the Leafs up 3-2 in the third period, the six-foot-two Reaves and the six-foot-seven Rempe fought in a spirited match to loud applause after the latter hit Ilya Lyubushkin in the second and ended the Toronto defenseman’s night.
Domi, whose dad, Tie, sits third all-time in penalty minutes, credited both combatants.
“Hardest job in the game,” Domi said on his 29th birthday. “There’s absolutely nothing even close.
“A lot of respect for both those guys.”
Tavares called it a “throwback” fight in an era where that part of the game has become significantly diminished.
“There was some anticipation, everyone was itching for it,” he said. “I don’t know how anyone would ever want to drop’em with Reavo.”
Samsonov enjoyed proceedings from his crease.
“Better than UFC sometimes,” he said with a smile.
Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe was more concerned with the hit on Lyubushkin, who suffered a head injury, but was seen in the locker room post-game.
“Comes a long way, leaves his feet and hits him in the head,” Keefe said.
Toronto forward Calle Jarnkrok returned to the lineup after breaking his knuckle in practice Jan. 26, while blueliner Timothy Liljegren was back from a two-game absence.
Tavares put the Leafs up 3-2 at 7:17 of the third when Jarnkrok’s shot hit Rangers defenceman Jacob Trouba before going in off the Toronto captain for his 18th goal of the season.
Following the Reaves-Rempe fight, Samsonov stopped Panarin with less than five minutes remaining in regulation and then made a glove save on Adam Fox moments later.
But Trocheck tied the game with his second goal of the night and 22nd overall with 67 seconds left when he scored on a rebound to force overtime after Marner hit the post on an icing.
"We played together," said Samsonov, who also made a crucial OT stop on Panarin. "We stayed tough battling."
New York took the lead at 11:33 of the first period when Lafreniere shot his 18th goal.
The Leafs — now 9-1-0 in their last 10 games — drew even at 3:54 of the second period when Marner slipped his 24th beneath Shesterkin, but Trochek completed a nice passing play 1:09 later to make it 2-1.
"Very fast-paced," Marner commented. "We knew it was going to be a back-and-forth game."
Benched for an error on New York’s first goal, Nylander tied the game for the home team at 8:54 when he sent a shot through traffic that hit a Rangers stick for his 33rd. That gave the Swede his third 10-game point streak of the season to set a franchise record.
Shesterkin denied Leafs star Auston Matthews, who leads the league with 53 goals, on a backhand shot from close range, and Samsonov stopped Fox on a short-handed rush.
Rempe then delivered that strong hit on Lyubushkin late in the period.
"It was a good game," Keefe said. "It was a good Saturday night from the beginning."
And it was concluded by Domi following a traditional brawl.
"Incredible," Domi said of the 37-year-old Reaves and 21-year-old Rempe. "You see the crowd was extra energized tonight for a significant event like that. They gave their all. Respect to that kid. He’s a tough guy.
"Reavo’s the toughest guy in the league. For him to hang in there like that, all the credit to him."
UP NEXT
Toronto hosts Boston on Monday, while New York welcomes Florida.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 2, 2024.
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