Another multi-point outing by Mitch Marner wasn’t enough for the Maple Leafs on Saturday night.
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Against the Pittsburgh Penguins on the road, Marner had a goal and an assist, marking his 15th game in 2024-25 with more than one point.
It was an old Leafs pal, though, who provided the difference in a 5-2 Penguins win at PPG Paints Arena.
As Leafs captain Auston Matthews served a high-sticking minor, Michael Bunting got a bounce and shot a loose puck into an open net for the winner at 5:34 of the third period. A pass by Bryan Rust hit the skate of Conor Timmins, fooling goalie Joseph Woll, and Bunting easily scored.
Blake Lizotte and Kris Letang each scored into an empty net in the final minute.
Woll’s personal six-game winning streak ended. He hadn’t been in net for a Leafs loss since Nov. 2 at St. Louis. Matthews had two assists.
For just the third time this season, the Leafs, who fell to 3-2-1 in the second game of back-to-back sets, allowed two power-play goals in a game. Including a 3-1 loss at home against Washington on Friday, it’s just the second time this season the Leafs have lost consecutive games in regulation.
The Leafs erased a pair of one-goal deficits in the first two periods and the game was tied 2-2 at the second intermission.
Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead less than five minutes into the game when Rickard Rakell tipped a Matt Grzelcyk shot past Woll for a power-play goal.
Marner scored less than two minutes later at 6:35. As he fell to the ice, Marner swatted the puck past goalie Tristan Jarry from the top of the crease.
Bryan Rust put the home side up 2-1 before the first period ended, beating a screened Woll at 14:15.
Toronto’s five-forward, No. 1 power-play unit connected for a goal by William Nylander at 2:32 of the second. Nylander scored his 17th goal when he blasted a Marner pass into the net past Jarry.
The Leafs activated Max Pacioretty from injured reserve and the veteran player was feisty in his first game since Nov. 9, when he suffered a lower-body injury against Montreal. Pacioretty took a couple of roughing minors, but neither resulted in a goal by the Penguins.
With Pacioretty back and on a line with Matthews and Marner, Nikita Grebenkin was scratched. Nick Robertson was scratched in favour of Alex Nylander.
The Leafs placed defenceman Jake McCabe on injured reserve, retroactive to Nov. 20.