Maple Leafs Vs. Penguins: Pittsburgh Defeats Toronto 3-2 For Seventh Straight Win

The Pittsburgh Penguins won their seventh straight game Wednesday night, defeating Toronto 3-2 and putting a serious dent in the Maple Leafs' playoff chances.

Pittsburgh trailed 2-1 seven and a half minutes into the second period, but scored three unanswered goals to finish the game. Pascal Dupuis was the offensive star for the Penguins, scoring twice and assisting on the third Pittsburgh goal. That goal belonged to Jordan Staal, who also notched an assist on Dupuis' first goal of the game.

Brad Thiessen, starting in place of Marc Andre Fleury, recovered from a slightly shaky start to stop 22 of the 24 shots he faced.

Phil Kessel and Carl Gunnarsson scored for the Maple Leafs, who fell to 30-30-7 on the season and slipped even farther back in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.

Toronto, which led 2-1 after two periods, had been 20-0-1 this season entering the third period with a lead.

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Maple Leafs Vs. Penguins: Toronto Tallies Two Second Period Goals, Leads Pittsburgh 2-1

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins made up for a rather pedestrian first period by putting up three goals in the second frame on Wednesday night at CONSOL Energy Center.

The Maple Leafs' Phil Kessel was the first to score, notching his 34th goal of the season one minute into the second period. Toronto took a two goal advantage six minutes later, when Carl Gunnarsson tallied just his fourth goal of the year for the Leafs.

Pittsburgh's Pascal Dupuis scored goal number 16 a mere two minutes later to cut the deficit to 2-1. Jordan Staal assisted, giving him a six-game scoring streak.

Brad Thiessen has struggled a bit in net for the resting Marc-Andre Fleury, allowing the two Toronto goals on 13 shots.

The Maple Leafs are 20-0-1 this season when leading after two periods.

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Maple Leafs Vs. Penguins: Pittsburgh, Toronto Scoreless After First Period

Even as the Pittsburgh Penguins await word on the return of star Sidney Crosby, they continue to win, and Wednesday night Pittsburgh is looking to notch their seventh consecutive victory at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Toronto, losers of 11 of their last 13 games, has hung with Pittsburgh, at least for the first period, and the two teams are locked in a scoreless tie after 20 minutes of play. At times, however, it has almost looked like the more talented Penguins are toying with the Maple Leafs, as the 11-to-3 shots on goal advantage might indicate.

Pittsburgh has effectively killed all three Toronto power play opportunities, with the Maple Leafs having been successful in stopping both Penguins chances.

Brad Thiessen is in goal in place of Marc-Andre Fleury for the Penguins this evening, and as mentioned above, he has barely been tested.

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Maple Leafs Vs. Penguins: Pens Try To Extend Win Streak Against Falling Leafs

The Pens will still be without Sidney Crosby on Wednesday, but that might not matter much.