The Penguins may have had five days off and four starter returning to their lineup, but the Florida Panthers were the ones dominating the game.
Florida got out to a 3-0 lead and never looked back on a Pittsburgh team that was mostly healthy but also extremely flat after a five day vacation.
Drew Shore capped off a dominating first period for the Panthers by scoring a short-handed goal with 4:14 remaining in the opening frame.
Shore scored again late in the second period to give Florida a 2-0 lead when he fired a shot past Marc-Andre Fleury on the short side.
Meanwhile, the Penguins sent a parade into the box which cut off any hope of the team finding a rhythm in the second period.
Dmitry Kulikov scored 1:17 into the third period to extend Florida’s lead.
The Penguins briefly turned the tide after Sidney Crosby went to the penalty box. Matt Niskanen’s blast from the left point squeaked past Scott Clemmensen to cut the Florida lead to 3-1.
But Clemmensen wouldn’t allow anymore goals, stopping 35 of 36 shots in the game. Jonathan Huberdeau crashed into the net with the puck later in the period. After a very lengthy review, it was deemed a good goal and Florida’s three goal lead was restored.
Twelve seconds later, Shawn Matthias scored with a short side wrist shot put the Panthers up 5-1 with six minutes remaining in the game.
- The Penguins hadn’t lost the Panthers at home since January of 2009.
- Sidney Crosby snapped his 17-game home point streak.
- The Panthers are 1 for their last 44 on the power play.
Three Stars
- Drew Shore
- Scott Clemmensen
- Jesse Winchester
Photo courtesy of NHL
