Penguins Ice Panthers

The Florida Panthers continued their three-game homestand on Friday night and fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 at the Bank Atlantic Center. Pittsburgh was without Sidney Crosby who skated in practice earlier in the day. The Penguins held a five-to-zero shot advantage six minutes into the game and 15-3 after 16 minutes. On the Panthers first power play, Matt Cooke intercepted a pass by Stephen Weiss at the Penguins line and skated down the ice with a one-on-one breakaway. His wrist shot went off the blocker pad of Scott Clemmensen for the save. The Penguins hit the left post twice on their first power play as James Neal and Evgeni Malkin both fired shots from the left circle. With 1:42 left in the first period, a pinball play in the Penguins zone led to Chris Kunitz getting a breakaway on Clemmensen. He went with a backhand shot that hit the left post and bounced out. Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead at 1:49 of the second period when Clemmensen misplayed the puck behind his own net. Matt Cooke placed a backhand pass to the low slot where Steve Sullivan shot it into an open net. The Penguins added to their lead with under one minute remaining in the period. Malkin had a two-on-one breakaway and blasted a shot from the left circle where was saved. He got the rebound beyond the goal line to the left of the net and threw a backhand toward the net and it slipped behind Clemmensen. Pittsburgh continued their scoring spree just 36 seconds into the third period. Following a Weiss turnover in the offensive zone, Tyler Kennedy finished up a three-man weave play by nailing a slap shot from the right circle. Florida broke the shutout at 6:55 as Michal Repik had the puck redirect off his body in the slot area after a slap shot by Jason Garrison from the blue line. Neal had several great chances to score in the first two periods and finally found the back of the net at 15:43. He streaked down the left side and let go a shot that went in ton he near side for a Pittsburgh 4-1 lead. The Panthers next game will be against the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins who make their first appearance in Florida.