Late surge sends Maple Leafs past Pens, into playoffs
TORONTO -- Connor Brown scored the go-head goal late in the third period and the Toronto Maple Leafs clinched a postseason berth for the first time in four years with a 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.
The Penguins had taken a 3-2 lead in the third period before Kasperi Kapanen tied the game for Toronto with 5:30 remaining in regulation.
Toronto clinched the game with an empty-net goal by rookie Auston Matthews, his 40th tally of the season.
The Penguins had already clinched home-ice advantage against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the playoffs.
James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak also scored for the Maple Leafs (40-26-15).
Former Maple Leaf Phil Kessel, Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel scored for Pittsburgh (50-20-11).
Toronto starting goaltender Frederik Andersen left the game at 2:01 of the second period after being knocked to the ice. Andersen remained flat on the ice for minutes while being tended by a trainer before going to the locker room.
Andersen stopped three of four shots and his replacement Curtis McElhinney made 12 saves.
Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 25 shots.
The game was tied at 2 after the second period before Guentzel scored an unassisted goal on what appeared to be a harmless shot at 6:51 of the third period. It was his 16th goal of the season.
The Maple Leafs tied the game on the first career NHL goal by Kapanen, who was left alone at the right side of the net.
Brown scored from the left circle at 17:12 to put Toronto ahead.
It was his 20th goal of the season.
Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead at 6:11 of the first period on the 23rd goal of the season by Kessel, who pounced on a loose puck and fired his shot from the right circle.
The Maple Leafs struck back 29 seconds later when van Riemsdyk potted his 27th goal of the season from the high slot.
Fleury turned aside van Riemsdyk on a breakaway on the next shift.
Toronto's William Nylander hit a goal post nearing the midpoint of the first.
Toronto had a 9-4 edge in shots on goal in the first period. The teams exchanged power-play goals early in the second period.
Bozak gave Toronto a 2-1 lead at 3:30 while Pittsburgh's Tom Sestito was serving a goaltender-interference minor after he knocked Andersen to the ice. It was Bozak's 18th goal of the season.
McElhinney replaced Andersen and allowed Crosby's 44th goal of the season at 7:55 of the second period after Toronto's Nikita Zaitsev was sent off on a delay-of-game penalty.
NOTES: The Penguins recalled C Kevin Porter and G Tristan Jarry from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Saturday, an indication players could be rested as the team prepares for the playoffs. Porter was in the lineup Saturday and Jarry backed up G Marc-Andre Fleury. ... Penguins C Evgeni Malkin (shoulder) and D Olli Maatta (hand) are close to returning from their injuries but did not play Saturday. RW Patric Hornqvist, C Nick Bonino, LW Chris Kunitz, RW Bryan Rust, D Brian Dumoulin and G Matt Murray also did not dress for Pittsburgh. ... The Maple Leafs finish their regular-season schedule Sunday at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets. ... The Penguins wrap up their regular-season Sunday when they visit the New York Rangers.