"We didn't stop on pucks. It's hard to just say we didn't work hard enough or weren't intense enough, but that's what it boils down to it felt like," said Andrew Copp. "They won all the puck battles, we were kind of drifting, and they're skilled enough that they're going to make plays behind you and capitalize."
Winnipeg opened the scoring 10:27 into the opening period with Toninato's second of the season. It came at the end of a strong offensive zone shift from his line with Riley Nash and Kristian Vesalainen, although it would be the defencemen - Dylan DeMelo and Brenden Dillon - picking up assists on the goal.
It was also the first goal Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry had allowed in 161 minutes and 33 seconds.
But it was the only puck that got by him on this night.
"We didn't really get too many great looks. We had 30 some shots, it was pretty perimeter I think," said Kyle Connor. "I had a breakaway and lost the puck, but other than that I don't think we really challenged him too hard. We made his night pretty easy to be honest."
It stayed that way until nearly 15 minutes into the second when the Penguins tied it up. Shortly after the Jets killed off a penalty Evan Rodrigues was able to find Jason Zucker in front. The Penguins forward was able to lift a quick wrist shot over Hellebuyck's left shoulder and in for his fourth of the season, and a 1-1 game.
It was the start of a surge that saw the Penguins earn most of the five-on-five scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick.
In the second period, Pittsburgh held the edge in that department by an 11-6 margin.
"We had a tough third period here. We've been pretty good other than that," said Maurice. "We put up 47 (shots) the other night, 39 (in Vancouver) and a bunch here tonight. We didn't play well in the third period. I'm not grouping our entire offensive game is missing. Parts are better than it's ever been, just the puck isn't going in the net."
Heinen gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead early in the third when he swatted home a loose puck in front of Hellebuyck. The rebound was the result of a Chad Ruhwedel wrist shot from the point that went off the Jets goaltender's mask, and Heinen got to it first. His sixth goal of the season came with 16:27 left in regulation.