Pittsburgh! The Mecca of hockey! Home of the best player in the world! Home of the...uh...well, a goalie.

The Leafs visit Pittsburgh after getting their first win of the season over David Clarkson and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Tonight they had another former teammate to play against in Phil Kessel. The Penguins haven't been at their best to open this season either, so both of these teams are looking for just their second win tonight.

The Leafs started off the period well, Babcock's systems are coming more natural to the Leafs. Passing, getting the puck out of their zone. Bernier even saved the first shot he faced! However it wasn't to last as three minutes into the game Joffrey Lupul took a boarding penalty. That seems to be the hot new penalty of the season this year.

Soon into the Pens powerplay Malkin would take an interference penalty. As Malkin gets out of the box he breaks away and scores on Bernier.

Thirty seconds later Olli Maatta takes the puck and scores on of his own from above the faceoff circles (of course I left him on the bench of my fantasy team tonight!).

Some back and forth between the Leafs and Penguins, Phaneuf gets into it with Malkin and gets the better of the exchange.

The Leafs get the puck into the Penguins end, Gardiner scores just like Maatta, maybe with some help from Leo?

Penalites for Kadri and Maatta and the first ends.

It's been interesting, I wouldn't start betting on the Leafs yet.

Oh, and during intermission the goal is moved to Komarov. Sigh. I have Gardiner on my keeper team.

I normally don't care what happens in the intermission but the interview with Gardiner was something else. Speaking about his goal he said "last year we would have folded...We're not working harder really, we're playing smarter. We have a new coach and he's sharpened things up." One guy's happy Randy's gone...

Those were probably the most eventful things in the game. The second period came and went, shots were taken, shots were blocked, no one scored. Pittsburgh got a penalty, no PP goal. Toronto got a penalty. No PP goal.

More penalties in the third, more PP units shooting blanks. I guess we can be thankful the penalty kill is doing well.

Here's the third period highlight.

The big showdown with Phil Kessel vs his former team never came about. Maybe he's saving it all for Halloween, show up everyone in person at the ACC. Who knows, narratives are fun, but mostly hype anyway.

Post-game comments:

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