Okay, so get this: The New York Rangers are absolutely tearing it up with a 7-3-1 record, good for a killer 0.682 Points % in the league, and guess who’s rolling with them, repping for a certain Pacific Northwest squad? Our very own Kraken forward, Tye Kartye, is on their second line tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Yeah, you read that right.
The Rangers’ Wild Ride to the Top (With One of Our Guys)
The Rangers are on a heater, no doubt, even after losing their starting goalie. They just clocked the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 at home, keeping that win streak alive. But here’s the kicker, if you look at their stats, it’s kinda wild how they’re doing it. Their five-on-five play? Super average. Their power play? Also average, even scoring below average sometimes. So, how are they racking up wins? Simple: their penalty kill is absolutely ELITE. Seriously, only one squad in the whole league has a better shorthanded Save % than these guys, and you already know who I’m talking about. That puts them in a prime spot to go toe-to-toe with the Leafs, especially at five-on-five.
The real secret sauce? Their all-situations Save % is one of the highest in the NHL. That’s turning a “slightly positive” Expected Goal Differential into a genuinely better actual Goal Differential. A lot of that early magic came from Igor Shesterkin’s first five games, but Dylan Garand has also been lights out. And check the lines for tonight: our guy, Tye Kartye, is slotted in on that second line alongside J.T. Miller and Pavel Dorofeyev. You love to see it when one of the Kraken faithful is making noise elsewhere, proving his worth. Garand is expected to start in net, backed up by Spencer Martin.
Maple Leafs Stick to What Works, But That Shiner Tho
Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs are coming into this one after a solid 6-2 road win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 20. Their record sits at 5-4-2, a 0.545 Points %. It looks like the Leafs are sticking with the lineup and strategy that’s been working for them over the last two games. And get this, defenseman Jake McCabe is back and ready to play, even if he’s sporting a nasty shiner this morning from a stick he caught to the eye in that Columbus game. Talk about taking one for the team!
For the Leafs, the lines are set with Easton Cowan, Auston Matthews, and Jack Roslovic leading the top line. Sergei Bobrovsky is tapped to start in goal, with Anthony Stolarz ready to back him up. Given how both teams are playing, with the Rangers relying on that stellar save percentage and PK, and the Leafs sticking to their recent winning formula, it feels like this game isn’t going to be decided by a power play clinic. Both squads are gonna need to buckle down and make plays at even strength and in transition.
So, get ready, Seattle. This Rangers versus Maple Leafs showdown is happening tonight at 7:00 PM at Scotiabank Arena. You can catch it on TSN4 or MSG. Keep your eyes peeled for Tye Kartye on that Rangers second line. We’ll be watching to see how our Kraken man helps the Rangers try to maintain their early season momentum against a Leafs team looking to build on their recent wins. This one’s gonna be a battle, you just know it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
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