John Curry just might open the regular season as goalie Marc-Andre Fleury's backup after all.

Ticketed for the American Hockey League after the offseason signing of veteran goalie Brent Johnson, Curry replaced Johnson for the third period Tuesday in the Penguins' 3-2 exhibition shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Center.

Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri pulled Toronto even, 2-2, at 18:52 of the third period. Toronto won the shootout, 2-0.

Johnson stopped 14 of 15 shots, but he tweaked a knee midway through the second period on a collision with Toronto center Tyler Bozak. It occurred after Johnson stopped Bozak's shot, the rebound of which was stuffed into an open net by Maple Leafs winger Viktor Stahlberg.

Johnson finished the period but did not join teammates on the bench in the third.

"We will see (about Johnson's status)," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "It was more precautionary than anything."

Johnson is coming off hip surgery, which cut short his 2008-09 season after just 21 games for the Washington Capitals.