Panthers Ice Down Penguins

     The Florida Panthers began a four-game homestand during the holiday season and beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in a shootout on Monday night at BB&T Center. This was the second game of a home-and-home series between both clubs. The Pens have gone eight games without losing in regulation while the Panthers have picked up at least one point in five of their last six games.
     Pittsburgh(22-6-5), who lead the Eastern Conference and Metropolitan Division in points, scored on their second shot of the game at 4:39 of the first period. Sidney Crosby sent a pass from the right wing to Simon Despres on top of the zone and his slapshot was redirected in by Patric Hornqvist in the low slot past Roberto Luongo for his 12th goal this year.
     It would take until 36.4 seconds left in the second period for Florida(15-9-8) to even the game. Dave Bolland had the puck in the low left circle and centered it to the middle where Jussi Jokinen snapped a shot from the edge of the left circle by Marc Andre-Fleury.
     The Panthers struck again just 22 seconds into the third period to gain a 2-1 margin. Sean Bergenheim placed a lead pass to Jimmy Hayes in the low right circle and he scored on a wrist shot for his eighth goal this season.
     Hayes added another tally and extended the Cats lead to 3-1 at 4:57 of the frame. Bergenheim took a backhand from the left of the crease which was saved and Hayes poked in the rebound when the puck was in the blue paint.
     The Pens would convert on the power play with 4:52 remaining in the third to pull within one goal. Derrick Pouliot fired a slapshot from the top of the zone through traffic which was deflected in by Nick Spaling in the slot for the goal.
     A Panthers turnover deep in their own end was capitalized by Pittsburgh as Evgeni Malkin charged toward the Panthers net from the right icing line and took three shots in the crease area for an unassisted goal with 3:10 to go in regulation. It was his 16th goal this season and 27th career point against the Cats in 27 games.
      The game was decided in a shootout as Aleksander Barkov scored in the seventh round for Florida. The Panthers played in an NHL record 20-round shootout in their previous home game last week against Washington.