Toronto Maple Leafs 1-0 defeat ends seven game Pittsburgh Penguins winning run - NHL Update
A low scoring game ended the Pittsburgh Penguins brilliant string of victories as the Toronto Maple Leafs held on for a 1-0 win at the Air Canada Centre.
The Pittsburgh Penguins were on an eight game winning run including a tense 5-4 shootout victory over the Maple Leafs on Tuesday, January 31st. However, that run came to an end in the return fixture as Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer got his
second shutout of the season as he sent the Leafs finally into the playoffs spot.
Toronto is now 8th in the Eastern Conference with a 26-19-6 record and they will now look to consolidate their position after finally breaking this barrier.
The Penguins remain fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 29-18-4 record and even with inform forward Evgeni Malkin in the line up, Pittsburgh could not breakdown Toronto's goaltender, James Reimer.
The loss ends a brilliant string of victories for the Penguins who before had comeback from a six game losing streak.
"I just think it was a little bit tighter checking of a game and that nullified some of the speed on both teams," said Penguins' coach, Dan Bylsma.
"There wasn't near as much room out there to play the game tonight and as a result, there weren't as many opportunities and scoring chances."
Reimer however, was ecstatic with the win after the goaltender faced a torrid few weeks in front of the net.
"I really wanted to get this win," said Reimer.
"It's been a tough little last couple weeks or whatever. Things really haven't gone my way. I felt like I was playing well and just wasn't getting the bounces.
"It was just nice to have everything fall into place and just be on the winning side when the buzzer went."
Penguins' goaltender, Brent Johnson was brilliant in front of goal as well but he could not match Reimer and sent the game to overtime.
Johnson made 23 saves during the game and it looked that he would also shutout the Leafs but could not stop a late third period winning goal.
The first two periods remained scoreless with Toronto outshooting the visitors by one, 16-17. Their advantage was rewarded late in the third period.
Clarke MacArthur stepped up at 13:55 to beat Johnson from close range as Mikhail Grabovski’s pass found the forward in a brilliant position.
The Penguins responded fast. Pittsburgh peppered Riemer but the goaltender was up to the task and held off Pittsburgh’s star studded offence to keep maintain the Leafs small advantage.
Pittsburgh will hope that this defeat does not turn into another long losing streak when they next take on the Boston Bruins on Saturday, February 4th while the Maple Leafs will face a Canadian rivalry game against the Ottawa Senators.
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