PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins’ dream start to the season continued for two more periods Monday. But the Winnipeg Jets made them pay for their sloppiness with three goals in the third period to send Pittsburgh to its first loss of the season.

The Jets beat the Penguins 3-2 on Monday at PPG Paints Arena. Sergei Murashov made his season debut for the Pittsburgh and largely played well, with 30 saves unofficially, but couldn’t contain Winnipeg’s third-period onslaught.

Pittsburgh fell to 2-1-0 on the season.

The Penguins had the early edge, outshooting the Jets 9-4 through the first 10 minutes. Then one bad Erik Karlsson turnover flipped the momentum, and Murashov spent the rest of the period under siege.

He had 12 saves in the opening frame, including stopping Gabriel Vilardi on a back-door opportunity where Murashov flashed his quickness to get across the crease and deny the point-blank shot.

He also created some adversity for himself by coming way out of his crease to play a puck that he couldn’t clear out of danger. Murashov got back in time to stop Vladislav Namestnikov on another golden chance.

Winnipeg didn’t let up after intermission. They turned several Penguins turnovers into rush chances.

After Murashov got lucky when a Kyle Connor shot hit the post, he made his own luck with an unbelievable glove save on Mark Scheifele from close range in the first minute of the second period.

The Penguins had some looks of their own early in the second. Jets goalie Clay Stevenson, claimed off waivers last week, stopped Sidney Crosby from just outside the crease.

Stevenson couldn’t stop Ben Kindel, however, when the 19-year-old batted a Declan Carlile pass out of the air and through the five-hole about midway through the frame.

Kindel comes from a soccer family. But it sure looked like he had a baseball background on that goal, his second in as many games.

Shortly after opening the scoring, Kindel shouldered a heavy shorthanded load as the Penguins killed off their first penalty of the game.

Murashov stopped the first 21 shots he faced through two periods. He got some help from his metal friend, as at least three Winnipeg shots rang off the post or crossbar.

His luck ran out about five minutes into the third period. Murashov stopped a shot from Isak Rosen but gave up a rebound in the slot that Karlsson couldn’t clear, and Alex Iafallo located it along the goal line and popped it in.

Karlsson had a secondary assist on Kindel’s goal. But it was a tough, turnover-filled night for him otherwise.

And the Jets quickly pounced again to take the lead. After Nick Robertson was knocked over at his own blue line with the puck, Winnipeg drove the crease with numbers. Murashov stopped Iafallo’s initial attempt, but Adam Lowry knocked the loose puck past him.

The Penguins found a quick answer. Kindel made a fantastic pass from along the boards to Carlile, who rifled in his second goal in the past two games to continue his hot start in Pittsburgh.

The tie didn’t last long.

After the score was knotted at 0 for nearly 30 minutes, the back-and-forth continued on the ensuing faceoff after Carlile’s goal. Winnipeg took the puck right into the Penguins’ zone, and a Josh Morrissey pass to Cole Perfetti in the high slot gave the Jets the lead again with about 11 minutes to play.

Around the boards

— Ville Koivunen returned to the lineup Monday after he was scratched in the home opener Saturday, skating on the third line with Kindel and Andrei Kuzmenko. Filip Hallander — despite tallying three points in the season opener — headed to the press box.

Koivunen picked up an assist on Carlile’s goal.

Up next

The Penguins head to Washington to face the Capitals at 7:30 p.m. ET Wednesday in their first of four meetings this season.

Washington’s Alex Ovechkin announced Monday that he’ll be retiring after this season, putting an even bigger spotlight on his remaining matchups with Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

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