The Penguins’ Lars Eller said they weren’t willing to play team defense Saturday night and the Toronto Maple Leafs made them pay for their nonchalance, bombing the Pens, 7-0. Toronto was racked by illness that decimated their lineup, but it made no difference.
Coach Mike Sullivan pulled goaltender Tristan Jarry early in the second period and said it was due both to Jarry’s poor play and the team’s lack of defense. Jarry gave up four goals. Alex Ndeljkovic gave up three, while third-string Toronto goaltender Marcus Jones pitched a shutout against the punchless Pens, who threw 38 shots at him but had very few quality scoring chances.
The Penguins return home to play the Minnesota Wild tomorrow night, in what may be former Penguin goaltender Marc Andrew Fleury’s last game in Pittsburgh.
