NHL

Mats makes rare scoring opportunity count

Close wasn’t good enough for John Tortorella. Speaking before last night’s game against the Maple Leafs, the Rangers coach made it clear that seeing Mats Zuccarello get multiple scoring chances wasn’t sufficient.

The winger had been held without a goal in six games since returning to the Rangers late last month from the KHL. The Rangers coach was tired of close. He wanted results.

“He’s got to score. He’s had chances, he’s created chances, but he hasn’t scored,” Tortorella said. “He has to score and he has to score in the shootout. It’s nice that we’ve seen it before, but we have to see it now.”

Tortorella’s wish, Zuccarello’s command.

The 25-year-old gave the Blueshirts a much-needed extra point in their attempt to hold on to the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot, scoring the lone shootout goal — his fifth-career game-deciding shootout goal — in the Rangers’ 3-2 win over the Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden.

“He played good, too,” Tortorella said. “We bounced him around and I thought he responded really well. As I said before, he needs to do something. And he did.”

Zuccarello, who has two assists in seven games, was a revelation as a rookie in 2010-11, converting on his first four shootout attempts, but since then had only scored on one of his previous seven attempts before last night, missing his lone chance this season.

Zuccarello skated second and skated slowly, explaining afterward that he never has any set idea what he wants to do in the shootout. He waited for a reaction from Toronto goalie James Reimer. Zuccarello waited and waited, then made his move with a quick deke, shooting a rapid wrist shot through Reimer’s legs.

Reimer had no idea it was coming, but Rangers forward Carl Hagelin did.

“I saw it the other day in practice. It didn’t surprise me,” Hagelin said. “He’s got great hands and great poise and is probably the best shootout player in the league.”

Zuccarello admitted that he puts a lot of pressure on himself in shootouts, knowing that most players want that opportunity, knowing how much is at stake.

Though he hasn’t scored in regulation yet this season, he said his confidence is growing with each game he has played. Zuccarello feels if he keeps getting to the net, he’ll give his coach what he wants.

“I feel like I work hard and create chances and that’s the most important things for me,” Zuccarello said. “I know it’s going to come. I know it’s going to go in. A lucky bounce here, hopefully down the stretch it’s going to come a little more.

“Seeing it go in was a good feeling. It’s about time. I’m just happy I can help the team get the two points. We need two points every game. It’s huge.”