In Pittsburgh, the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs grabbed a 3-0 lead over the Penguins into the middle frame on Tuesday and held on for a 5-2 victory.
John Tavares opened the scoring in the first period with his 400th NHL goal and a 1-0 lead to the Leafs.
“Just a big win,” Tavares said. “Just that more meaningful when you do it on a night where we get two points and the group plays well, everyone contributes. Get a big win for [goalie Matt Murray]. A good feeling tonight on the plane. Then when we get back home, kind of push it aside, regroup and get ready for Thursday (against the New Jersey Devils).”
Matt Murray made 35 saves for the win in his return to the crease.
“Tonight felt great,” Murray said. “It was great to be back. I’m looking forward to one game at a time here. I’m feeling great, really enjoying myself. Had a great time tonight, a great experience here tonight. I’m looking forward.”
Toronto improved to 9-5-3.
Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell were the Pens strikers.
Pittsburgh dropped to 6-7-3, they have lost nine of their 11 games.
“We have moments in the game where we’re playing really well,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “We gain momentum, we generate scoring chances. We’re playing on our toes, we’re dictating the terms out there. And there are lapses in the game where it seems like we break down.”
Mitchell Marner pushed the lead to 2-0 in the first period.
Michael Bunting scored the first of his two goals on the night with just 11 seconds gone in the middle frame for a 3-0 advantage to Toronto.
Rakell and Crosby hit for their goals to get the Pens within 3-2.
“It was a tough night tonight,” Crosby said. “I thought we had a good [three-game road trip]. Thought we generated some good chances tonight, but [we] gave up some good ones too. We’re on the wrong side of it.”
Bunting’s second goal came with 50 seconds left in the second period for a 4-2 lead for the Maple Leafs.
“It’s a good road game for us here,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Guys executed very well in the first period. Scored two quick goals and got off to a great start to the period.
“Could’ve been 4-0 for us. We turn around and one goes in off a leg, it’s 3-1 and changes the game. [Murray] made some saves. We survived a little bit there, just kept playing from there. Pretty solid from our guys all the way around.”
William Nylander added an empty-net goal with under three minutes left in the third for the 5-2 final.
Casey DeSmith made 28 saves in the Penguins loss.
“I thought we gave up a couple more odd-man rushes tonight than previous games,” DeSmith said. “That team’s really opportunistic. They’re good off the rush, they’re good in transition. They fly the zone a lot, they have a lot of skill. That’s something you have to watch out for.”
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