Two down, 80 to go in the NHL regular season for the Pittsburgh Penguins (2-0-0, 4 pts), and another dominant performance. This time, it was on the road at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, where the Penguins won 5-2 over the Maple Leafs (0-2-0, 0 pts).
Pittsburgh was in control throughout, again scoring three times in the opening period. Adding one in the second and one in the third, a balanced and relentless attack was too much for the Maple Leafs to handle. One of the team’s many new faces, Patric Hornqvist (acquired from Nashville in the James Neal trade this offseason), scored the game’s first goal again. Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz would add power play goals for a quick 3-0 lead after twenty minutes.
In the middle period, Toronto’s Joffrey Lupul and Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin each netted power play goals as well. Brandon Sutter tacked on an even strength score in the third before Tyler Bozak scored the game’s fifth power play goal to finish the scoring for the evening. Pittsburgh was 3-5 with a man advantage and Toronto was 2-5, continuing early struggles for the Penguins penalty killing unit. That, however, has been the only blemish on an otherwise perfect start under new head coach Mike Johnston.
With 11 goals in the first two games, Crosby (three), Hornqvist (two) and Sutter (two) each already have multiple goals on the season. Pascal Dupuis, who had four points in the opener, was held scoreless on Saturday night despite six shots on goal. Pittsburgh outshot Toronto 41-25 and in all three individual periods. Marc-Andre Fleury made 23 saves and earned his second win in two starts. His goals against average improved to 3.00 on the young season. Maple Leafs netminder Jonathan Bernier was peppered early and often with shots, stopping 36 of 41 and taking the second loss in his two starts.
Crosby and Malkin led the way for Pittsburgh with a goal and two assists each. Christian Ehrhoff was the only Penguin with a plus-2 plus-minus and none of his teammates was in the minus. Fellow defenseman Kris Letang added two assists.
Pittsburgh is now off until next Thursday when Dallas (0-0-1) visits Consol Energy Center for the first of three consecutive home games.
