Sunrise, Florida – Sam Reinhart and Anton Lundell scored in the shootout, giving the Florida Panthers a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night.
Third Period Goal Gives Panthers the Lead
Matthew Tkachuk scored a power-play goal midway through the third period for Florida, giving the team a 2-1 lead. The Panthers also received a goal from Gustav Forsling earlier in the game.
Goaltending Saves the Day for Florida
Spencer Knight stopped 29 shots for Florida, and then shut the door in the shootout, denying Rickard Rakell and Sidney Crosby. Lundell’s goal in the shootout sealed the win for the Panthers.
Tie Broken in Final Minutes
Rakell got the tying goal with 39.9 seconds left in regulation – 6-on-4, with Florida’s Sam Bennett in the box for roughing – and Crosby also scored for Pittsburgh. Tristan Jarry made 31 saves for the Penguins.
Injuries and Penalties Affect Both Teams
Penguins Lose Philip Tomasino
C Philip Tomasino was lost about five minutes into the third period after an awkward fall into the boards and needed help getting off the ice, clearly favoring his lower right leg. The Penguins quickly announced that he would not return to the game.
Matthew Tkachuk Collects 20 Penalty Minutes
Tkachuk might have been a little extra motivated on his goal. The Panthers were about to get a delayed power play late in the second period when Crosby swiped at a puck to stop play. A scrum ensued and 20 penalty minutes were handed out – 12 to Tkachuk for a minor and a misconduct.
Key Moment and Stat
Spectacular Save by Knight
Knight made a spectacular save against Pittsburgh’s Michael Bunting just after the Tkachuk goal. With the Penguins on the power play, the puck squirted into the goal crease – and Knight kicked his right toe at it just in time to deny Bunting and protect a 2-1 lead.
Crosby Reaches a Milestone
Crosby became the eighth player to score 30 regular-season goals against Florida, joining Alex Ovechkin (44), Steven Stamkos (42), Jaromir Jagr (35), Ilya Kovalchuk (35), Martin St. Louis (32), Marian Hossa (32) and Peter Bondra (30).
Up Next
Pittsburgh visits Carolina on Sunday. Florida visits Colorado on Monday.
Conclusion
The Panthers’ shootout win was a thrilling finish to an exciting game. Knight’s spectacular save and the Panthers’ timely goals secured the win. Florida’s defense was solid throughout, and their power play was effective.
FAQs
Q: Who scored the winning goal in the shootout?
A: Anton Lundell scored the winning goal in the shootout.
Q: How many goals did Sidney Crosby score?
A: Sidney Crosby scored one goal.
Q: What was the final score?
A: The final score was 3-2 in favor of the Florida Panthers.
Q: Who did Spencer Knight stop in the shootout?
A: Spencer Knight stopped Rickard Rakell and Sidney Crosby in the shootout.
Q: When do the teams play again?
A: Pittsburgh visits Carolina on Sunday, and Florida visits Colorado on Monday.
