Panthers edge Pens
PITTSBURGH — The Florida Panthers and captain Olli Jokinen stopped two seemingly endless streaks in the same night.
Jokinen's first road goal of the season helped the Panthers halt a six-game losing streak and beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Tuesday night.
A few minutes after Sidney Crosby tied the game at 2-2 in the third period with a highlight-reel goal for Pittsburgh, Jokinen's slap shot from above the right circle on a power play won it for Florida. Penguins goalie Jocelyn Thibault was screened on the shot, something the Panthers emphasized in practice.
"It was a huge goal by Olli and exactly what we needed," goalie Alex Auld said.
Jokinen and Gary Roberts each had a goal and an assist and Ruslan Salei had two assists in Florida's first victory since beating Boston 3-2 on Nov. 20. The Panthers had scored one goal in their previous four games, and were outscored 23-9 during the losing streak.
For the Penguins, it was more of the same — more losing and missed opportunities.
The Penguins lost their sixth in seven games and 12th in 16, even after Crosby seemingly gave them a big lift by scoring while holding off two defenders and being tugged to the ice.
Crosby grabbed the puck at mid-ice a few seconds after the Penguins went on the power play midway through the third and, switching from his forehand to his backhand, skated through defensemen Jay Bouwmeester and Ruslan Salei to wrist the puck past Auld while sliding to the ice.
Crosby's 11th goal was his first since Nov. 20, just before he missed three games with a groin injury. However, any momentum he created for a slumping team was quickly ended by Jokinen's goal.
"That was tough," Crosby said. "We kept pressing. But we couldn't find a way to get it done and we've got to do that."
Florida was 2-for-5 on the power play after being 0-for-17 in its previous four games. Pittsburgh was 2-for-7.
Penguins coach Michel Therrien altered his lineup, making rookie Jordan Staal a healthy scratch for the first time in his NHL career. Staal has seven goals, but none in the last seven games. Also, forward Ryan Malone played his first game since breaking his arm Oct. 21.
