Toronto Maple Leafs keep perfect record with win over the Pittsburgh Penguins
The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to surprise everyone as they are off to their best start in over a decade and remained undefeated by beating the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have yet to win at home this season,
4-3 on Wednesday night.
How it went down
The Penguins appeared to be in control after the first period leading 2-1, but things took a sharp turn south when the Toronto Maples Leafs scored three goals in the second period on just five shots.
Clarke MacArthur kicked off that second period run for the Leafs on the power play as he fired home his third of the season on a one-timer after Tomas Kaberle found him with a beautiful cross-ice pass.
After Francois Beauchemin made it 3-2, MacArthur had his second of the night, and fourth of the season, when Mikhail Grabovski found him in front with a nifty behind the back pass from behind the net,
for MacArthur to snap home.
Sidney Crosby tried to give his team a spark by scoring his first of the season late in the second, but Jonas Gustavsson shut the door in the third period and the Maple Leafs emerged victorious after mustering
only 14 shots all game.
What they're saying
Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf doesn't really seem too surprised by his team's turnaround and quick start to the season.
"Everyone keeps bringing up last year," he said. "Well, it doesn't really matter right now. We're focused on this group and this year."
First star, Clarke MacArthur, was quick to praise Grabovski's vision after the Belarussian set up his second goal of the night.
"The pass he made through the skates there was unbelievable," he said. "I think the goalie was still looking behind the net."
Crosby and head coach Dan Bylsma expressed their frustration by out-shooting their opponent and still coming away with a loss.
"Fourteen shots against, usually you're pretty happy with that," Crosby said. "But I don't think we generated enough ourselves."
"There's got to be a certain level of execution," said Bylsma of his team's performance. "If you don't have it, you can't expect to be a good team and you can't expect to win."
What it all means
The Pittsburgh Penguins have yet to christen their new arena, the Consol Energy Center, with a win and are off to a hugely disappointing start now finding themselves at the bottom of the Atlantic Division.
They will have their fourth chance for a home win when they take on the New York Islanders on Friday night.
The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to impress and are now three points clear atop the Northeast Division. They take on the New Rangers who are 1-1 on Friday night.
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