Matthews, Campbell lead Maple Leafs past Penguins

The special teams and goalie Jack Campbell provided the right stuff for the Toronto Maple Leafs to pass a challenging mid-season test against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.

Campbell made 45 saves against the red-hot Penguins, while defenceman Morgan Rielly scored a dandy goal on the power play and set up a short-handed marker from David Kampf in the 4-1 victory before 8,139 at Scotiabank Arena as relaxed provincial COVID-19 restrictions allowed the building to be at half capacity.

Auston Matthews also extended his point streak to nine games, scoring his 33rd goal 21 seconds into the game on a breakaway thanks to a perfect pass from TJ Brodie. Matthews then set up 26-year-old rookie Michael Bunting with the final goal of the game midway through the third period.

The fast start and blanking the Penguins (31-12-8) on their five power-play opportunities were essential elements of the Maple Leafs (32-12-3) win.

"Loved those two parts, and Jack Campbell was just outstanding," Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe said, adding this was possibly Campbell's best outing of the year.

"This was as calm and poised as he's looked all season. He made the tough saves look easy."

Campbell struggled in recent weeks. But he was sharp all game, right from stopping Jeff Carter on an early breakaway to a late-game pad stop on Dominik Simon.

In the second period, Campbell even assisted on Rielly's highlight power-play goal when he made an excellent read. Instead of dropping a pass to Matthews or Mitch Marner in the neutral zone, he held onto the puck, skated past three Penguins and drove a high shot past goalie Tristan Jarry.

"I saw Morgan streaking back on the right side and just left it for him perfectly, and that's about