* Things were going well for the Pens as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead 14 minutes into the opening period. But the Leafs responded with 3 unanswered goals to defeat Pittsburgh. It was a very tight contest, not the free flowing, back-and-forth affair that was expected.
The Pens battled to the bitter end, literally - Phil Kessel had a chance to tie with 2 seconds remaining in regulation, but it wasn't to be.
* A major turning point it the game came late in the first period. Pittsburgh had a 2-0 lead when Patric Hornqvist located a rebound and tried to push a backhander into a vacant net. However, his attempt was blocked by a Leafs' defenders. Minutes later Auston Matthews scored Toronto's first goal.
If Hornqvist scores to make it 3-0, this game may have had a different ending. But it's little plays like that which turn the tide of outcomes.
* The Pens power play had gone 4 straight games without scoring a goal, and 0 for the last 12 attempts. The squad broke that drought against the Leafs as Sidney Crosby tallied the game's opening goal on the man-advantage to open the scoring.
* Teddy Blueger is making a case for himself to be in the Pens' lineup permanently. He scored his 2nd career goal (on his 2nd career shot) against Toronto. Blueger now has a goal in each of his last 2 games.
Blueger's 2nd career goal occurred in almost the exact same fashion as his 1st. Blueger had the puck in the far dot and went top corner, glove side for the tally. And he had an awesome fist pump celly.
And Blueger saw some action on the Pens' PK. If Blueger keeps this up there will be some tough decisions for the coaching staff once the team gets healthy. But they'll be "good" tough decisions.
* I'm really liking Nick Bjugstad's game. He created 2 glorious scoring chances for himself in the contest and has handled the duties as the second-line center very well considering he has played in 2 games, and without a single practice.
