Five Rangers score vs. Leafs as New York stretches winning streak to 5 games

Rangers get goals from 5 players in win over Leafs

NEW YORK — Defenseman Dan Girardi and Sean Avery both scored two goals and the New York Rangers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-2 on Monday night for their fifth straight victory.

Wade Redden had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Callahan, and Marian Gaborik also scored for the Rangers, undefeated since a season-opening loss at Pittsburgh. New York has also won seven consecutive at home, dating to last season. Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves for his fourth victory.

Brandon Dubinsky, Chris Drury, Artem Anisimov and Vinny Prospal all had two assists for the Rangers, who scored four goals in the third period.

Alexei Ponikarovsky and Jason Blake tallied for the Maple Leafs (0-4-1), who along with the New York Islanders are the NHL’s only winless teams. Vesa Toskala, who made 26 saves, had been 5-0-2 with a 1.37 goals-against average versus New York while with Toronto.

After waiting until the third period Sunday to get their offense clicking, the Rangers jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first against the Leafs. Callahan got things started, with major help from second-year Toronto defenseman Luke Schenn, during the Rangers’ 5-on-3 power play.

While Callahan whacked at a rebound in the crease as Toskala tried to cover the puck with his glove, Schenn knocked it in with his stick at 2:34.

Redden doubled the lead at 8:08 when he took a pass from Vinny Prospal, stationed behind the net, and one-timed a drive for his first of the season.

The Maple Leafs got on the board with 44.2 seconds left in the first when Ponikarovsky scored his third goal.

Lundqvist looked sharp after resting Sunday as backup Steve Valiquette shut out Anaheim 3-0. He bailed out the Rangers with big saves after multiple breakdowns.

Girardi gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead 26 seconds into the middle frame after Chris Drury cleanly won an offensive zone faceoff back to him. Girardi’s shot hit White’s stick and bounded past Toskala.

Toronto again got within a goal when Blake netted his first of the season with 2:49 left in the second during a power play.

The Maple Leafs were given another advantage in the final minute of the second, but that was negated 17 seconds later when Blake was called for cross-checking.

Avery scored his first goals in his second game following a knee injury. He beat Toskala with a backhander 1:56 into the third, and Gaborik made it 5-2 just 1:17 later with a poke shot from the crease. Gaborik added an assist to raise his totals to five goals and four assists this season. He has a point in all five games.

Girardi added his second goal of the game with 6:19 left and Avery finished the scoring at 18:03.

NOTES: Former Rangers enforcer Colton Orr fought Donald Brashear, the man who took his job this season, during the first period and received a fair amount of cheers from fans who haven’t yet warmed to Brashear. … The Rangers are 32-16-8 against Original Six NHL teams since the 2005-06 season, including 9-6-2 vs. Toronto. … Toronto had won three straight against the Rangers.