New York, NY (Best E Casino) - Stephen Valiquette stopped 21 shots for the shutout, and Fredrik Sjostrom scored the game-winner in the shootout, as the New York Rangers topped the Toronto Maple Leafs, 1-0, at Madison Square Garden.

Nikolai Zherdev scored first in the shootout for the Rangers until Nikolai Kulemin tied it in the second round. Sjostrom hit the right post on his shot, but Toronto goaltender Vesa Toskala moved backwards, knocking the puck into the net with his right pad.

"I did that move because (one of the coaches) gave me a tip to go for that move," Sjostrom said. "It was a close game."

Jason Blake had a chance to tie the shootout for the Maple Leafs, but his final attempt hit the post and the Rangers posted their sixth win in seven games this season.

Both Valiquette and his counterpart, Toskala, were sensational in net, as neither team could find the back of the net in regulation or overtime. Valiquette posted his first shutout since February 9, 2008 at Philadelphia, and Toskala stopped 32 shots in defeat.

"I feed off the energy our team is creating," Valiquette said. "In the third, I felt like we had so much energy. You could just feel the momentum building. And the fans are like a seventh man out there."

This marked the first time the teams played to a scoreless contest through regulation since Dec. 8, 1956 when the game ended 0-0.

The Rangers had numerous opportunities to score, failing on eight power play chances. Toronto, which has lost three in a row after winning its opener, couldn't convert on any of its four man-advantages.

"Taking those penalties, and the little cheap hooking, we gotta learn and watch the penalties," Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson said. "It's just a lack of discipline. (They have to) keep (their) sticks down because we killed ourselves with penalties."

The Rangers outshot the Maple Leafs, 7-5, in the opening period. Mikhail Grabovski had the best chance for Toronto, as he took a pass in the middle with about 7 1/2 minutes remaining in the period. He was able to move around a defender, but the puck came off his stick before he could get a good shot on net.

New York had the only power play of the frame, as Grabovski went off for hooking at 15:36. However, the team couldn't muster any significant chances on Toskala, who turned away every shot he faced.

It was more of the same in the second period, with neither team scoring despite numerous power play opportunities. The Rangers failed on three man- advantages, while the Maple Leafs couldn't covert any of their three chances.

New York's best opportunity came early in the period, as Scott Gomez had his stick on the puck in the crease. But a Toronto defenseman didn't let Gomez get much on the shot, as Toskala was able to grab the puck just before it trickled over the goal-line.

Niklas Hagman almost converted for the Maple Leafs in the last 20 seconds of the period. Right after killing off a penalty, Hagman went into the offensive zone and dropped the puck off. After a slap shot was saved by Valiquette, a rebound came to Hagman on the side of the net, but he couldn't put it away, keeping the match scoreless headed into the final period.

The Rangers dominated the third period, outshooting the Maple Leafs 13-4, but once again neither team could get on the board. New York came the closest to scoring, as a Gomez shot with just over 11 minutes left hit both posts after deflecting off Ryan Callahan's leg. A review showed that the puck rolled over the entire goal-line from post-to-post, coming within inches of giving New York the lead.

"(Toskala) played very well when we needed him he came up with some big saves, obviously needed a little bit of luck one hit the post twice, but gave us a great effort tonight.

The Maple Leafs didn't get their first shot of the period until 5:11 to go in regulation, but Toronto killed off all three of the Rangers' power plays to send the game to overtime.

Each team had a good chance early in the extra session, but both netminders made a brilliant save to keep the game scoreless.

Toronto went on the power play about a minute into overtime, but was unable to convert on the 4-on-3 advantage. With just over a minute to go, New York went to the man-advantage, but the Maple Leafs avoided giving up the game-winning goal, sending the game into the shootout.

Game Notes

In four matchups last season, the road team won each contest...Toronto's Ryan Hollweg began serving a three-game suspension, as he received his fourth game misconduct within a 41-game span Monday against St. Louis.