Rangers lose to Leafs in overtime after failing to protect lead

TORONTO — For 55 minutes Wednesday, the Rangers had the Maple Leafs where they wanted them. But a late goal by Timothy Liljegren erased the Blueshirts’ lead. Then, 19 seconds into overtime, Mitch Marner scored to steal a 3-2 win for the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

It was a tough loss after holding a lead against one of the top teams in the league.

“I thought tonight was a really good effort,’’ Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey said. “Maybe if we win the game, 2-1, then we’re applauding our 60-minute effort and our defensive game. But, you know, in overtime, anything can happen.’’

Filip Chytil scored twice in the second period to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead entering the third, and they protected it until Liljegren beat goaltender Igor Shesterkin (32 saves) with 4:11 left to force the overtime.

Toronto nearly won it in regulation at the buzzer, but former Islander John Tavares hit the goalpost before the final horn.

The Rangers (26-14-8) did at least earn a point, meaning they’ve taken three of a possible four points this season against Toronto (30-11-8), the second-place team in the Atlantic Division.

“They made a good play, and they attacked, and they got a [tying] goal,’’ said Rangers coach Gerard Gallant, whose team is seven points clear of the playoff line. “But, no, I liked our game. I thought we played really well in a tough building, with a real good team against us. So . . . I want the two points, but we’ll take the one and run.’’

The Rangers fell behind early before taking control in the second period. Rookie forward Will Cuylle, making his NHL debut before family and friends in his hometown of Toronto, had a rough start, as his line was on the ice when the Maple Leafs got a goal from Pontus Holmberg 2:27 into the game.

The play began when defenseman Braden Schneider pinched in at the right boards, but Toronto’s Alexander Kerfoot got the puck out and up the wall to Joey Anderson. Schneider’s defense partner, Ben Harpur, rotated over to cover Schneider, but Anderson sent a pass to the middle for Holmberg, who was in on a breakaway. He scored his fifth goal of the season on a backhander.

But the Rangers seemed to settle themselves over the rest of the period and Chytil’s cheeky goal off the faceoff at 2:10 of the second period tied it.

Chytil, the Rangers’ worst regular faceoff man with a 38.6% success rate entering the game, was taking a draw in the left-wing circle, and instead of trying to draw the puck back, he swung his stick forward as the linesman dropped it, effectively firing a one-timer that went in against Toronto goalie Ilya Samsonov (27 saves).

Chytil’s second goal came when Kaapo Kakko stole the puck from Marner inside the Leafs’ zone and flipped a pass to Alexis Lafrenière, who returned the puck to Kakko above the left circle. Kakko skated to the net, cut around defenseman Justin Holl at the bottom of the circle, and centered a pass to Chytil at the far post for a one-timer that beat Samsonov at 6:31.

The goal was Chytil’s 15th of the season, giving him a new career high.

But the Rangers weren’t able to protect the lead.

“We knew they were going to come out and create some chances, but . . . we just sat back a little bit too much, and let them forecheck and let them dictate the game,’’ defenseman Ryan Lindgren said. “Obviously, they’re a good team and they’re going to create chances, but we’ve just got to do a little better job of defending and getting pucks out.’’

By Colin Stephenson

colin.stephenson@newsday.comColinSNewsday

Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.