November 6, 2024

Marner extends point streak, Maple Leafs beat Penguins 4-1

Holmberg #Holmberg

Right wing Mitchell Marner scores on Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith during the first period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely) © Provided by The Associated Press Right wing Mitchell Marner scores on Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith during the first period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mitch Marner extended his point streak to 16 games with a goal and an assist, and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 on Saturday night.

Auston Matthews became the seventh player in team history with 200 career even-strength goals, William Nylander scored his 12th of the season and Pontus Holmberg his second for the Maple Leafs, who have points in eight straight games and 14 of their last 16 overall. Marner’s goal was his sixth of the season.

Toronto has won three straight games and nine of its last 13 overall. The Maple Leafs are 5-0 on the road in November.

Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner celebrates with center Auston Matthews (34) near Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph (73) after scoring during the first period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely) © Provided by The Associated Press Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner celebrates with center Auston Matthews (34) near Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph (73) after scoring during the first period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely)

The Maple Leafs are missing four regulars on defense, including top defenseman Morgan Rielly, but they held a 41-26 advantage in shots. Erik Kallgren made 25 saves for his third win of the season.

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith (1) stops a shot by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely) © Provided by The Associated Press Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith (1) stops a shot by the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely)

Rickard Rakell scored his ninth for the Penguins, whose five-game win streak ended. Casey DeSmith stopped 37 shots.

Marner needed 40 seconds to extend his point streak after he caught Pittsburgh in a bad line change and beat DeSmith on a breakaway. Marner has factored in Toronto’s first goal in each of the team’s last six games. Toronto is 7-3-2 when it scores first.

Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Brock McGinn (23) and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews go for the puck during the second period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely) © Provided by The Associated Press Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Brock McGinn (23) and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews go for the puck during the second period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely)

Toronto dominated play and outshot Pittsburgh 24-6 at one point, yet still held a 1-0 lead. Pittsburgh appeared to tie the game at 7:58 of the second when the puck squeezed through Kallgren’s equipment. Rakell battled behind Kallgren to backhand a shot across the line, but the play was deemed dead when the referee lost sight of the puck, and the goal was waved off.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) skates by Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Justin Holl during the first period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely) © Provided by The Associated Press Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) skates by Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Justin Holl during the first period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely)

Less than two minutes later, Holmberg gave the Maple Leafs a 2-0 lead with a wrist shot from the slot to the glove side. Nylander scored from the top of the crease 55 seconds later, increasing the lead to three goals.

Nylander scored his 149th career goal, surpassing Hockey Hall of Famer Borje Salming for second-most by a Swedish player in Maple Leafs’ history. Salming, who was living with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, died Thursday at 71.

MARNER’S STREAKING

Marner is tied with Dave Andreychuk (1993-94), Babe Dye (1921-22) and John Anderson (1983-84) for the third-longest single-season point streak in franchise history. Darryl Sittler (1977-78) and Ed Olczyk (1989-90) share the Maple Leafs’ single-season point-streak record of 18 games.

Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Jason Zucker is slowed down by Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Victor Mete (98) and right wing William Nylander as he shoots on goalie Erik Kallgren during the first period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely) © Provided by The Associated Press Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Jason Zucker is slowed down by Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Victor Mete (98) and right wing William Nylander as he shoots on goalie Erik Kallgren during the first period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely)

Marner has five goals and 22 points during his 16-game run.

FAMILIAR FOES

The teams met for the third time in 15 days. Both won by multiple goals on the road and Maple Leafs took Saturday’s series finale.

Toronto’s last regulation loss came Nov. 11 in Pittsburgh.

UP NEXT

Maple Leafs: Close a four-game trip Monday at Detroit.

Penguins: Continue a five-game homestand Tuesday against Carolina.

___

Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell (67) is stopped by Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Erik Kallgren (50) during the second period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely) © Provided by The Associated Press Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell (67) is stopped by Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Erik Kallgren (50) during the second period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely)

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Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) skates away as the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate a goal by right wing William Nylander during the second period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely): Maple Leafs Penguins Hockey © Provided by The Associated Press Maple Leafs Penguins Hockey Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander celebrates a goal with center Auston Matthews near Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith (1) during the second period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely) © Provided by The Associated Press Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander celebrates a goal with center Auston Matthews near Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith (1) during the second period of a hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely)

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