TORONTO — Brock McGinn scored the tie-breaking goal 1:54 into the third period to help the Pittsburgh Penguins defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 at Scotiabank Arena on Friday.
Using Maple Leafs defenseman Mark Giordano As a screen, McGinn shot between Erik Kallgren‘s pads from the right face-off circle.
“Just having the mindset of going out there and doing it [and playing responsibly with good structure] for a full 60 [minutes],” McGinn said. “I think everybody in this room when we’re on our game, we can beat anybody in the league. It’s just doing it consistently and doing it every night.”
Kallgren said he felt he should have been able to make the save.
“He kind of shoots behind us [defense] a little bit,” Kallgren said. “I see it late and it goes in. I’ve got to save that one.
“It’s not good enough by me. Not good enough. I feel bad for the team. Got to be making that save and then we have a good chance at winning the game.”
Video: PIT@TOR: McGinn puts Penguins ahead 3-2 in the 3rd
Evgeni Malkin scored his 450th NHL goal and had an assist, and Casey DeSmith made 28 saves for the Penguins (6-6-2).
“[Malkin] was in beast mode tonight it seemed,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “He was a threat all night long. When he is at his best, when he plays the game like we have all grown accustomed to watching him over the years, the puck just follows him around. It was one of those occasions tonight. He scores, he sets up a bunch, he had a bunch of looks. I thought his line was really a threat most of the night.”
Pittsburgh has outscored opponents 8-3 in consecutive wins, including a 4-1 win against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, after being outscored 33-16 during a seven-game skid (0-6-1). McGinn also scored the game-winner against Washington.
“Definitely, I think we are playing more responsibly,” DeSmith said. “Doing the little things in the defensive zone, maybe a little bit more physical, protecting the scoring areas, giving the defense a little more support, getting back, less odd-man rushes. Everything is just coming together for us. If we keep it up, we are going to win a lot of games.”
Zach Aston-Reese and William Nylander scored, and Kallgren made 19 saves for the Maple Leafs (7-5-3), who are 0-1-1 after winning three straight.
“I thought Erik played well tonight,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “He’s been playing well for us, so shake that one off and feel good about how you’ve been playing giving your team a chance to win.”
Jason Zucker gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead at 1:08 of the second period when he one-timed a pass from Malkin, but Nylander tied it 2-2 at 17:17 on a power-play, one-timing a pass from Morgan Rielly at the left face-off dot.
The Maple Leafs took a 1-0 lead at 13:49 of the first period when Aston-Reese put in a loose puck. Denis Malgin‘s shot was blocked by a Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang.
Malkin tied it 1-1 at 19:24, scoring after Chad Ruhwedel‘s point shot hit Toronto defenseman TJ Brodie.
“I felt we had some really good portions of the second period,” Keefe said. “I felt some of the first period was OK, not nearly as good as we’d expected but we are up 1-0 and in a good spot there with a great goal from Aston-Reese to give us a lead. I was really disappointed how we closed out that period to give them one back.”
Video: PIT@TOR: Malkin ties game with 36 seconds left in 1st
After allowing 16 shots in the second period, the Penguins held the Maple Leafs to four in the third.
“We were not happy [after the second period],” Malkin said. “We talked in the locker room and we tried to play better. We need like wins, we need like confidence. We know we lost seven games in a row.”
Jake Guentzel scored into an empty net with 13 seconds left for the 4-2 final.
“I thought [the third period] was a real solid period from our standpoint, just from a structure standpoint,” Sullivan said. “I thought we did a great job in the neutral zone and from a structure standpoint, trying to take some of their speed away and force them to have to dump pucks instead of carrying pucks.”
NOTES: The 2022 Hockey Hall of Fame inductees, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Daniel Alfredsson, Roberto Luongo, Riikka Sallinen and the late Herb Carnegie were honored prior to the game. Former Maple Leafs defenseman Borje Salming, the first Swedish player elected to the Hall of Fame, who was diagnosed with ALS earlier this year, participated in the pregame ceremony. … Keefe said goalie Matt Murray will not play Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. Murray practiced Wednesday and Thursday but has not played since sustaining an adductor injury Oct. 15. … Keefe coached his 200th NHL regular-season game (123-55-22). … Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner had an assist to extend his point streak to eight games (12 points; two goals, 10 assists) and assist streak to eight games. … Guentzel extended his point streak to six games (eight points; five goals, three assists) and goal streak to four games (four goals). … Kallgren is the 132nd goalie Malkin has scored against in the NHL.
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