Rob Brown and Robert Lang also scored for Pittsburgh, while Ron Tugnutt made 31 saves. Pittsburgh, seventh in the Eastern Conference with 86 points, is five points ahead of both Montreal and Buffalo, and six ahead of Carolina.
Buffalo has three games left, while Montreal and Carolina each have two.
The Leafs failed for the second successive game to clinch their first division title since 1962-63. Toronto is five points head of Ottawa in the Northeast Division. The Leafs have two games left and Ottawa three. King opened the scoring midway through the first period when Kevyn Adams fanned on a shot, leaving King with an open net. Thomas put the Leafs back in front 50 seconds later when he gathered the puck and sent it home after Jonas Hoglund fanned on a shot.