TORONTO (AP) – Bryan McCabe spoiled Sidney Crosby’s NHL debut in Canada, scoring 1:02 into overtime to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night.
Chad Kilger scored twice for the Maple Leafs, winners of a season-high six straight.
Crosby had an assist and now has five goals and five assists in five games since being snubbed for the Canadian Olympic team.
A large contingent of family and friends made the trip from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, and Crosby didn’t disappoint them. The 18-year-old made a nifty behind-the-back pass to Zigmund Palffy, whose shot forced goalie Ed Belfour from the net- allowing Sergei Gonchar to score on the rebound at 5:47 of the first. Fans cheered when Crosby’s assist was announced.
The Penguins had a chance for their first three-game winning streak of the season, but Toronto’s line of Mats Sundin, Alexander Steen and Kilger took over early in the third.
Steen made a pass from the behind the net to Kilger, who scored on a wrist shot at 1:15.
Less than 3 minutes later, Kilger put a one-timer past goalie Jocelyn Thibault following a pass from behind the net from Sundin.
Pittsburgh’s Michel Ouellet tied it on the power play with a shot from the side net at 15:21 of the third.
Penguins coach Michel Therrien put his hands on his head after Tomas Surovy received a 2-minute penalty for goalie interference with 1:22 left in regulation, but the Penguins killed off the penalty.
But Toronto skated right back down the ice. McCabe made a drop pass to Tomas Kaberle, who passed it to Kyle Wellwood, whose shot deflected off McCabe’s strick and in.
The Maple Leafs are on their longest winning streak since an eight-game run from Nov. 22-Dec. 6, 2003, and have won seven of eight since an 8-2 loss to Ottawa on Dec. 17.
Notes: The Penguins are 2-5 since Therrien replaced the fired Eddie Olczyk. … Toronto’s Tie Domi tied Bob Baun for 10th on the career games list as a Leaf (739). Sundin is ninth with 789. … Pittsburgh owner-player Mario Lemieux missed his sixth straight game due to an irregular heartbeat.
AP-ES-01-02-06 2212EST
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