Penguins Fight Back Against Champs, Lose in Shootout

SUNRISE, Fla — Pittsburgh Penguins winger Rickard Rakell snapped a sharp one-timer on a late third-period power play after Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett roughed Drew O’Connor with 2:01 remaining in the game. The Penguins fourth-ranked power play scored two goals in eight chances, including Rakell’s late tally to force overtime.

Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry and Florida goalie Spencer Knight each made three saves in overtime, but Florida scored twice in the shootout for a 3-2 win.

The Penguins trailed Florida 2-1 until the power play when they earned a valuable point. Rakell hit the post in the opening seconds of overtime. Florida defenseman Gustav Forsling hit the post in the final seconds of overtime.

Florida (24-14-2) is the defending Stanley Cup champion and presents a formidable challenge even on nights when they are not performing to optimal quality. It’s been a few years since the Penguins (17-17-6) had such a privilege.

Matthew Tkachuk finished serving a 10-minute misconduct penalty, which spanned the last 5:22 of the second period and the first 4:38 of the third, and scored a power-play goal almost immediately upon exiting the penalty box. Tkachuk (14) was battling in front of the net, and Carter Verhaeghe’s shot caromed off him behind Jarry.

The Penguins nearly tied the game with about five minutes remaining as Michael Bunting slipped a pass to Evgeni Malkin, who was wide-open, but Malkin hit the post with a yawning cage. The loss means the Penguins have lost three of their four games since the holiday break.

The Penguins had a rough first period. With a pair of young left-handed defensemen on the right side (P.O. Joseph and Owen Pickering), Florida’s heavy chip-and-chase forecheck was problematic. Goalie Tristan Jarry’s early struggles compounded the unsettled Penguins’ effort.

Jarry misplayed several superficial shots, making a few casual situations more dangerous than necessary. The first period stabilized for the Penguins when Florida forward Sam Reinhart clipped defenseman Ryan Graves with a high stick. The Penguins received a four-minute power play, which they did little with, but it bought time to settle.

The Penguins outshot Florida 12-9 in the first, though Florida visually had the better chances.

Those chances and Jarry’s struggles manifested early in the second period when Gustav Forsling (6) beat Jarry with a long-range wrister through traffic at 0:36 of the second.

The Penguins finally cracked the board on their second four-minute power play of the game. Very quickly after the faceoff, Sidney Crosby (11) very quickly converted Bryan Rust’s spinning backhand pass at 11:09. However, the Penguins did little with the second two minutes and quickly gave Florida a power play after a wild scrum in the defensive zone with four minor penalties, and an original hooking penalty to Rickard Rakell.

Tkachuk was also given a 10-minute misconduct for a few words offered from the isolation of the penalty box.

The Penguins’ top-10 penalty kill was able to quash the chance, and Marcus Petterson’s last-second penalty was also met with a zero.

The Penguins had just four shots on goal in the second period, including Crosby’s goal.

The third period was a relatively even battle. The Penguins had 11 shots, and Florida had 10, including a last-second flurry in an attempt to win the game before the final horn.

Jarry stopped 27 of 29 shots in regulation and 31 saves overall. Knight stopped 29 on 31 shots.

Penguins Notes

Penguins winger Philip Tomasino was injured early in the third period when he slid feet-first into the end wall. He needed to be helped off the ice, favoring his right leg.

The Penguins power play was two-for-eight. They entered the game ranked fourth in the league with a 26.1% conversion rate.

Bryan Rust’s first period assist was his 400th point. Friday was also his 600th career game.

Shootout

Florida, Sahsa Barkov: X

Penguins, Rakell: X

Florida, Sam Reinhart: Goal.

Penguins, Crosby: X

Florida, Anton Lundell: Goal.