Kopecky Hat Trick Beats Pens

    Florida right wing Tomas Kopecky got his first hat trick in his NHL career as the Panthers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-4 on Tuesday night at BB&T Center. It was a rare circumstance where all four eligible goaltenders for the contest played in the game as both starting goalies were pulled.
    Florida(6-9-4) scored the only goal of the first period as they did it on the power play at 13:57. The Cats had been 1-for-24 on the power play in their previous eight games. Defensman Dmitry Kulikov passed the puck from the top of the zone to defenseman Brian Campbell at the top left circle who slammed a slapshot. After the initial save by Penguins goalie Tomas Vokoun, Kopecky put in a backhand shot from the crease for his sixth goal.
    Both teams combined for seven goals in the second period. Pittsburgh(13-7-0) evened it up 51 seconds in as right James Neal took a slaphot from the top right circle following a feed by center Sidney Crosby from the top of the zone.
    The Panthers retook the lead 2-1 with a power play goal when left wing Tomas Fleischmann made a right circle shot and Kopecky pounced on the rebound with a turnover shot in the crease at 3:22. 
    They converted on a delayed penalty call during another power play when left wing Jonathan Huberdeau was hooked from behind by Penguins left wing Pascal Dupuis. Center Drew Shore sent the puck to Kulikov on the right post who passed across to Campbell. His left point slapshot went in off the right post at 8:23. It was Campbell's fifth goal of the season.
    The Cats got their fourth power-play goal of the game just 31 seconds later to make it 4-1. Kopecky threw a backhand pass from the right of the cage to center Marcel Goc in the crease for his first tally this season. Following the goal, Vokoun was pulled from the game for Marc-Andre Fleury.
    The Pens began to mount a comeback at 9:51. Defenseman Brooks Orpik passed from the blue line to center Dustin Jeffrey in the top left circle who then ripped in a wrist shot.
    They cut the deficit to 4-3 as defenseman Paul Martin popped a slapshot from the right wing off a center-ice pass by Neal at 14:08.
    Pittsburgh tied the game at 4-4 with 41 seconds left in the period on the power play. Crosby stopped a Panthers clear-out pass on the right-wing wall and passed to left wing Chris Kunitz in the low right circle. His intended pass in front went off defenseman Mike Weaver's skate and between goalie Jose Theodore's legs. Theodore was pulled from the net after the second period and replaced by Scott Clemmensen.
    Florida regained the lead 3:27 into the third period as Fleischmann scored his 100th NHL goal. Center Jerred Smithson sent a lead pass from his own defensive zone to Fleischmann who streaked down the right side and scored on a wrist shot from the right circle.
    Kopecky wrapped up the Panthers victory on his third goal of the game with one minute left as he banked a backhand pass from the Florida blue line that went off the right-wing wall and carried into the Penguins open net.      
    The Cats had their best game on the power play this season as they went 4-for-7 while the Pens were 1-for-4. Clemmensen improved to 2-1-2 as he stopped all 15 shots in the third period. Jose Theodore played in the first two periods and made 15 saves on 19 shots. Fleury entered the game and made 12 saves in 31 minutes which dropped his record to 10-4-0. Vokoun played the first 29 minutes and gave up four goals on 22 shots. The Panthers will host the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night to end the three-game homestand.