Pens edge Maple Leafs, 3-2 Karlsson hits for winner late in second

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In Pittsburgh, the Penguins scored twice in the middle frame to erase a 2-1 deficit and take a 3-2 lead over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs after 20 minutes.

Tristan Jarry, who made 31 saves, protected the lead for the 3-2 win.

The Pens improved to 10-10-0.

“When our team’s playing at its best, we’re playing on our toes, we’re playing on top of teams,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “I felt we did a much better job just battling, trying to play on our toes and play a little bit more of an in-your-face game.”

Tyler Bertuzzi and Matthew Knies scored in the first period to help give the Maple Leafs   a 2-1 lead after the first.

“It was tight,” the Leafs” Auston Matthews said. “A tough one to give up, last minute of the period there. Thought we had some looks to tie it up but just didn’t go in. I thought there was some good process throughout the game. It’s never going to be perfect. They’re a good team over there.”

Toronto dropped to 10-6-3.

Jake Guentzel scored at 4:27 of the first, 29 seconds after the Bertuzzi goal, ti tie the game 1-1.

“I think we just defended a little bit harder,” Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said. “We probably did a better job just making better decisions that didn’t allow them to get odd-man rushes or clean looks. When they did, ‘Jars’ made some big saves.”

Knies scored at 7:46 for the 2-1 lead after the first period.

“I think they were a little heavier and played consistently throughout the whole 60,” Knies said. “I thought we were sloppy in the second period, just kind of gave up the chances. I thought we were chasing a little too much.”

The Pens’ Noel Acciari tied the game, 2-2, midway through the second period.

“To me, the tough one to give up was the second one,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Nearly full possession of that puck. Our [defense] gets [it] into our forwards’ hands and we have a chance at a very clean breakout, out we go. Instead, we give it back to the defenseman again and compound the problem. Ends up in the net. To me, that’s the game.”

Erik Karlsson  hot for the game-winner with 26 seconds left in the middle frame.

“We stuck with it, got some big goals from some different guys,” Karlsson said. “The third, I think we weren’t afraid to go out there and play to win this game instead of being scared of losing it. It was a step forward for us.”

Joseph Woll made 32 saves in the loss.