After seeing the highly touted Jack Hughes of New Jersey, it’s on to Kakko, another prized rookie forward who has had a rough December. Willy Nylander’s two-goal game in Manhattan eight days ago was one of his best outings, and Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe was hopeful it would lead to a run of points. That might be about where the pundits placed them before the season, but the stripped-down Rangers won’t get a free pass from impatient fans. Big Apple, big gameFormer Islanders captain John Tavares was always fired up to play the Rangers and still has more assists against this team (27) than any other opponent. Eight points in his last eight games prior to Friday will bring Kreider on some teams’ radar.

Source: National Post December 28, 2019 03:56 UTC