Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier wasn't expected to start against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he made 39 saves in a 3-2 shootout win at Consol Energy Center. After Bernier and Penguins goalie Matthew Murray each allowed a goal in the first round, Bernier made two consecutive saves and Murray allowed PA Parenteau's game-winning goal over his pad in the second round.
Pittsburgh's David Perron and Toronto's Peter Holland scored the first-round goals.
Bernier allowed six goals on 15 shots in a 6-3 loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday. He started for a second consecutive night after James Reimer, who was expected to make his first start since Dec. 3 and made six saves in relief of Bernier on Tuesday, was ruled out a few hours before this game with tightness.
Murray stopped Nazem Kadri, James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak each on a breakaway to maintain a 2-2 tie through the final two periods. Murray made 34 saves but could not earn his third NHL win in his fourth start.
The Maple Leafs handed the Penguins a seventh loss in their past nine games. Pittsburgh allowed several breakaway chances or odd-man rushes, including on the power play. Dion Phaneuf scored 3:51 into the first period. After Kadri sent the puck up the near wall, Phaneuf collected it along the blue line and prepared for a slap shot while drifting laterally. Phaneuf's shot made its way through a screen from Michael Grabner to give Toronto a 1-0 lead.
Chris Kunitz tied the game 1-1 on Pittsburgh's first power play. Evgeni Malkin slid a pass through the slot to Sidney Crosby, who sent a pass by Morgan Rielly to Kunitz at Bernier's right. Kunitz deflected the pass past Bernier's stick 5:25 into the first. Kunitz's goal was the Penguins' first in the first period since forward Conor Sheary's first NHL goal 8:20 into a 6-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Dec. 18 (five games).
Jake Gardiner gave the Maple Leafs a 2-1 lead 1:13 into the second period. Van Riemsdyk sent a wrist shot off Brian Dumoulin's stick that hit Gardiner's glove before sailing over Murray's glove into the upper-right corner. Crosby tied the game 2-2 with Malkin and Phaneuf each in the penalty box when he carried the puck into the offensive zone, set up in the middle of the right circle, and took a snap shot over Rielly's stick and Bernier's glove at 4:45 of the second.
Pens Quotes
Matthew Murray: "I'm the kind of guy that I always expect myself to make the save. That's just the personality I have and the kind of mentality I try to bring. So, I wouldn't say I surprised myself."Mike Sullivan: "There were a few [defensive lapses]. We talked on the bench about having more defensive awareness. Even though we're on the power play, we can't be so high-risk that we're giving up those types of chances."
Sidney Crosby: "We had our chances. They certainly did too. It's a tied hockey game and you know the next one's big. We had some power plays, one there late. We definitely have to find a way to get that go-ahead goal."
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