Pens 5, Panthers 1

This was the Pens game from begining to end. The Pens were able to snap the 12 game losing streak to the Panthers and in doing so allowed the Panthers to join the Pens on the golf course at season end. They were also able to chase Luongo from the game after the 2nd period and break his own 12 game win streak against them.

The Pens started the game with their first of 2 shorthanded goals in the game from Koltsov, who redirected a nice feed from Gonchar. Whitney then scored on a Power Play of their own 1:17 later.

The Pens started the scoring in the 2nd period the way they did in the first on a shorthanded goal from Malone, his 5th this year. The play featured two nice passes to set up Malone for the empty net shot. The first was a head man pass from Crosby to Melichar who then faked a slap shot and hit Malone at the side of the net with the open cage. Crosby got his 36th just under 7 mins later to put the Pens up 4-0.

The Pens and Panthers traded goals in the 3rd by Bouwmeester and LeClair. The Bouwmeester goal ended Caron's bid for a 2nd shutout and his scoreless streak at 118 mins.

Crosby had a 4-point night and raised his season point total to 91 with 6 games left. He has to average just over a point a game to make that 100 point mark.

Pens travel to Tampa Bay tomorrow...