Matthews gets 1st goal since return in Maple Leafs win against Penguins

PITTSBURGH -- Auston Matthews scored for the first time in three games since returning from a lower-body injury, and the Toronto Maple Leafs won 7-2 against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday.

Matthews, who also had an assist for the second straight game, missed five games from Nov. 13-22.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Bobby McMann and Nicolas Roy also each had a goal and an assist, and Morgan Rielly, Max Domi and Matthew Knies each had two assists for the Maple Leafs (11-11-3), who had lost eight of 10 (2-6-2), including 4-2 at the Washington Capitals on Friday. Dennis Hildeby made 33 saves.

“A lot more entries and making some things happen,” Toronto coach Craig Berube said. “We got rewarded for it.”

Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (12-7-5), who were 3-1-1 in their previous five games. Arturs Silovs allowed four goals on 10 shots before being pulled just 4:53 into the second period. Tristan Jarry made 10 saves in relief after recording 26 in a 4-3 overtime win at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.

“I thought we had the puck a lot,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. “Within the chances, I think we have to create more quality on some of those. There were opportunities there. ... I don’t think our execution was there on a number of them, and then the chances we’re giving up, they’re just too loud. They’re too big.”

Ekman-Larsson put Toronto ahead 1-0 on its first shot on goal at 6:46 of the first period. He collected a loose puck off his own pass attempt to Easton Cowan and scored with a snap shot from the slot to extend his point streak to nine games (three goals, seven assists).

However, Ekman-Larsson wound up leaving the game in the third period with an upper-body injury.

“I’m hoping he’s fine,” Berube said. “I don’t know yet, but we’ll evaluate him tomorrow. I think he’ll be OK, but we’ll see. ... He brings a lot. I mean, ‘O’ is a versatile guy back there for us.”

Ben Kindel tied it 1-1 eight seconds into a power play at 8:14. He batted the puck in out of midair after Steven Lorentz chopped it off Crosby’s stick and it bounced off Scott Laughton’s shoulder.

Cowan gave the Maple Leafs a 2-1 lead at 11:06 with a one-timer set up by William Nylander.

McMann made it 3-1 at 2:24 of the second period, tipping a shot from Rielly.

Dakota Joshua extended the lead to 4-1 at 4:53 on a wrist shot before Silovs was pulled.

“Honestly, this one is hard to assess,” Penguins defenseman Kris Letang said. “Looks like we had tons of chances and we just didn’t grab the momentum by putting the puck in the net. After that, every time we made mistakes or we opened up the game, they capitalized on it.”

Roy pushed it to 5-1 on a power play at 13:58, burying a snap shot after Domi stole the puck from Jarry.

“It’s been a long time coming, right?” Domi said. “I think it does nothing but build confidence for our group. ... I think everyone came ready to play.”

Crosby cut it to 5-2 at 4:37 of the third period with a backhand. It was his 16th goal this season and 641st in the NHL, passing Dave Andreychuk for 15th in NHL history.

Matthews scored his 10th goal of the season on a snap shot from the right circle, making it 6-2 at 7:14.

“I think the quality of the chances we gave up were just too good,” Crosby said. “I thought we had the puck for a good chunk of it, but when we did have breakdowns, they were big ones and quality chances. So, we have just got to tighten up.”

Robertson poked the puck off the stick of Penguins defenseman Mathew Dumba and scored on a snap shot at 13:16 for the 7-2 final.

“It’s obviously nice to score a couple goals and win with quite a big lead, which we haven’t done in a long time," said Nylander, who did not play against Washington on Friday due to an illness. "So, it’s nice. Build some confidence here on the road.”

NOTES: Ekman-Larsson's nine-game point streak is tied for the second-longest by a Maple Leafs defenseman with Cody Franson (2014-15), Bryan McCabe (2006-07) and Ian Turnbull (1976-77 and 1978-79). Tom Kurvers holds the record at 10 games (1989-90). ... Rielly had his 100th multipoint game, becoming the third Maple Leafs defenseman to reach the mark, along with Borje Salming (175) and Tomas Kaberle (102). ... Silovs was pulled for the second straight start. He surrendered four goals on 10 shots before being replaced 1:09 into the second period of a 5-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 21. ... Crosby had his 502nd multipoint game. He is three away from tying Gordie Howe (505 with the Detroit Red Wings) for the most in NHL history with a single franchise.