TORONTO —
Sidney Crosby and James Neal scored shootout goals, and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 on Saturday night for their NHL-leading 11th road win.
Neal opened the shootout with a goal against James Reimer before Crosby sealed the win on Pittsburgh’s second attempt after Marc-Andre Fleury stopped Toronto’s Tyler Bozak and Nazem Kadri.
Phil Kessel forced overtime for the Maple Leafs with his seventh of the season at 15:40 of the third.
Neal, Crosby, Beau Bennett and Pascal Dupuis scored in regulation for Pittsburgh (17-8-0), which outshot Toronto 41-26. Crosby scored in his first game in Toronto in over three years to extend his point streak to a season-high seven games (five goals, 10 assists).
James van Riemsdyk, Cody Franson and Clarke MacArthur had the other goals for Toronto (15-10-1). Defenseman Dion Phaneuf added three assists.
Crosby, who leads the NHL with 40 points (12 goals, 28 assists), played in Toronto for the first time since Jan. 9, 2010.
In 11 career visits, Crosby has nine goals and six assists. He has an eight-game point streak against the Maple Leafs.
Overall, Crosby has 19 goals and 19 assists in 24 career meetings with the Maple Leafs.
Pittsburgh outshot Toronto 13-5 in the first period and grabbed a quick lead when Neal scored his 16th of the season just 36 seconds in. Matt Niskanen’s point shot was partially blocked, but the puck dribbled into the slot to Neal, who fired a shot past Reimer.
Van Riemsdyk tied it at 7:14 during a power play, scoring his 14th goal, but Crosby and Bennett combined to give Pittsburgh a 3-1 lead.
Crosby netted his 12th goal at 14:31 after Reimer couldn’t control Kris Letang’s shot, allowing Letang to get the rebound back to Crosby. Bennett’s shot got past Reimer at 15:21, giving Bennett his second of the season.
Franson’s second of the year pulled Toronto within a goal on the power play at 10:12 of the second, while Crosby was off for tripping. Dupuis put Pittsburgh ahead 4-2 at 13:01 with his ninth, but MacArthur made it 4-3 a minute later with his seventh.
Reimer finished with 37 saves.
Notes: Forward Matt Frattin returned to Toronto’s lineup after missing 12 games because of a knee injury. ... Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin earned an assist on Bennett’s goal, giving him points in nine of 11 games in Toronto. ... The Maple Leafs entered leading the NHL in hits (773) and fighting majors (25). ... The Penguins will be back in Toronto for another game on Thursday. ... Crosby came into the game with an average of 1.63 points per game, the NHL’s best mark since Penguins owner Mario Lemieux averaged 1.77 points per game in the 2000-01 season.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin (right) collides with Toronto’s Carl Gunnarsson as they battle for the puck during the first period of Saturday’s game. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young) The Canadian Press, Chris Young
Discussion
Crosby, Neal carry Pens in shootout
- Sports
-
-
Pens seize 3-1 series lead over Senators
Sidney Crosby was careful not to get too far ahead of himself after helping the Pittsburgh Penguins rout the Ottawa Senators for a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.
-
Liriano dominant in third start with Bucs
Francisco Liriano’s fastball is going where he wants it to. The Pittsburgh Pirates are following suit.
-
Miller improving, but cautious about return
Heath Miller knows his football career isn’t over, just paused. When the injured Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl tight end will be able to hit the “play” button again is anybody’s guess.
-
Senators relish chance to even series with Penguins
After a win in Game 3, the Ottawa Senators are confident they can tie their series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
-
Snider’s grand slam lifts Bucs over Cubs
Travis Snider took a pregame pep talk from his manager to heart. Relaxed and with a clear head, he delivered a crucial sixth-inning home run for the second time in five games.
-
Humbled Steelers ready to forget offseason
Troy Polamalu walked off the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice field on Tuesday with rookie safety Shamarko Thomas hanging on the veteran safety’s every word.
-
Palmer to leave UPJ women’s position
Sasha Palmer will embark on a new chapter as a women’s basketball coach next month.
-
Sumney added to SFU men’s coaching staff
St. Francis men’s basketball coach Rob Krimmel filled a vacancy on his coaching staff Monday with the hiring of Mike Sumney as an associate head coach.
-
Goalie Anderson gives Senators a chance
Craig Anderson has his game back, and just in time to give the Senators a chance.
-
Ottawa rallies to top Pittsburgh
Colin Greening scored 7:39 into double overtime, and the Ottawa Senators rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins that cut their series deficit to 2-1 on Sunday night.
Daniel Alfredsson got Ottawa even 1-1 by scoring a short-handed goal with 29 seconds left in regulation just after the Senators pulled goalie Craig Anderson for an extra skater. - More Sports Headlines
-
George: I slipped up
LeBron, Wade on OT win
Hill responds after Game 1 loss to Heat
Vogel: We've got to play better
Spoelstra: Welcome to the Eastern Conference Finals
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Coach's quick call saves Moore football team
Sergio Garcia issues an apology to Tiger Woods
Sergio Garcia makes insensitive remark about Tiger Woods
Athletes come to aid of Oklahoma tornado victims
Tiger Woods on his relationship with Sergio Garcia
NBA Draft: Top 5 Prospects
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
Race Preview: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Behind the Seams: Big Spenders are Busts
Red Wings take 2-1 series lead
McReynolds: Johnson Coca-Cola 600 favorite?
McReynolds: 48 Team primed for Chase
