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Catching a break: Maple Leafs topple Penguins in overtime

Pittsburgh Penguins v Toronto Maple Leafs

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 17: Jake Gardiner #51 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his winning goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on December 17, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Penguins 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins by a final score of 2-1 on Saturday.

Jake Gardiner won the game in overtime, lifting the puck into the net after Marc-Andre Fleury got caught up trying to poke check Mitch Marner.

It was a game of breaks:

Phil Kessel, the Penguins prolific scorer, had a chance to break a 1-1 deadlock on a breakaway against Frederik Andersen -- only to have his stick break as he leaned into one of those classic Phil Kessel wrist shots.

For the Maple Leafs, talk about catching a break.

It was a game of firsts:

Maple Leafs defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, signed by Toronto in May and expected to make the jump into the NHL this season, scored his first goal in the league.

That milestone goal tied the game just 14 seconds after Evgeni Malkin gave the Penguins the lead in the first period.

Talk about a cool moment for the 25-year-old blue liner from Moscow.

It was a game of close calls:

There was a scary moment in the first period, as Fleury was cut just under his chin, after he took a skate under his goalie mask.

Matt Murray came off the bench for a short time, but Fleury did return to the game. He made 41 saves in the loss, although considering the number of shots (49) the Maple Leafs threw at the Pittsburgh net, perhaps the Penguins -- a team without Kris Letang and Trevor Daley because of injuries -- were fortunate to get this one to overtime.