Pens' 13-Game Home Winning Streak Ends With 5-1 Panthers Loss
PITTSBURGH (KDKA)-- It was a bad night from the start as the Panthers dominated the Penguins in an upset battle against the team with the second worst record in the Eastern Conference.
The Florida Panthers crushed the Penguins with a score of 5-1, snapping their 13-game home winning streak.
The Panthers came out running in the first period as 22-year-old center, Drew Shore, who was playing in just his ninth game all season, scored his first of two goals with almost four minutes remaining.
It was just the second short-handed goal that the Penguins had given up all season.
The second period was the same story, as Shore once again rose to the occasion with almost six-and-a-half minutes remaining, as he scored on a short 11-foot goal, assisted by Jesse Winchester, as he led the Panthers with three assists on the night.
In the third period, the Panthers came out strong, as Dmitry Kulikov scored within the first two-and-a-half minutes to give his team a 3-0 lead.
Finally, the Penguins would look as if they were going to attempt a comeback as three minutes later, Matt Niskanen hit a long 46-foot slap-shot for a goal to cut the deficit to 3-1.
However, the comeback ended there, as the Panthers exploded with just less than six minutes remaining, nabbing two more quick goals in 12 seconds by Jonathan Huberdeau and Shawn Matthias.
Not only was the offense good for the Panthers, but their defense proved well throughout the night with goaltender Scott Clemmensen earning his sixth win of the season, while getting a game-high 36 saves in his first start since Dec. 29.
The Penguins will look to get back on the winning track Wednesday as they play their last game of a three-game homestand against the Montreal Canadiens.
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