Penguins Edge Panthers

     The Florida Panthers began a three-game road trip on Tuesday night and were defeated by the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in overtime at Consol Energy Center. The Cats, who play in Pittsburgh one time this season, have won just once in their last l2 visits to the Steel City. Roberto Luongo passed Grant Fuhr for ninth all-time in NHL history with 868 games played by a goalie.
     Sidney Crosby was able to give Pittsburgh[3-3-O] a l-O lead on the power play with 9:OO left in the first period as he put in a snap shot from the top right circle for his first goal of the campaign. Kris Letang set the play up from the right point as he connected a pass to Evgeni Malkin on the left side and then he sent a cross-ice pass to Crosby.
     In the third period, Florida[3-2-l] had a goal disallowed at l:l6. Brian Campbell blasted a slapshot that went off Reilly Smith on the left side of the crease and into the Penguins cage which was called a goal by game officials. The call was reversed and the Cats still trailed by one goal.
     The Pens jumped to a two-goal margin exactly two minutes later. Crosby sent the puck from the left corner to Rob Scuderi in the high slot and he released a high wrist shot. Luongo made a blocker save, however Phil Kessel scored on the rebound from the low slot. It was the second goal this year for Kessel who was acquired by Pittsburgh from the Toronto Maple Leafs during the summer.
     Quinton Howden scored his first goal of the season with 8:56 remaining to cut the lead down to 2-l. Erik Gudbranson shot the puck from the right point and was deflected by Connor Brickley at the top of the right circle. Howden spun in the crease area and lifted a forehand shot over the right shoulder of Marc Andre-Fleury.
     The Panthers tied the contest with 6:O3 to go and they swamped the Pittsburgh zone. Brickley backhanded the puck from the end wall to the high slot where Derek MacKenzie ripped in a goal.
     The Penguins continued on a power play as they entered overtime and eventually got the game winner at l:2l. Letang gently backhanded the biscuit from the top slot to Malkin who smashed a one-time shot from the top right circle.