Panthers Fall to Penguins, Drop First Home Game of Season

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers were back on home ice for the first time in 12 days on Thursday, returning after a long road trip that saw them win just one of five games.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, the result was not in their favor. The Pittsburgh Penguins beat Sergei Bobrovsky five times on just 16 shots, as the Panthers fell 5-3 at Amerant Bank Arena.

After dropping their first home game of the season Thursday, the Panthers fell to 4-5-0 on the season.

Sidney Crosby opened the scoring on the power play 6:24 into the game. The Penguins captain picked up his fifth goal of the season after burying a one-timer near the left face-off circle to put Pittsburgh up 1-0.

Rickard Rakell doubled the Penguins lead 6:36 into the second period, tapping in a loose puck near the crease for his third goal of the season.

Less than two minutes after Pittsburgh made it 2-0, Brad Marchand continued his spectacular start to the season, scoring his fourth goal of the season 8:26 into the second to finally get Florida on the board.

On the power play, Mackie Samoskevich wired a cross-crease pass straight to an unmarked Marchand, who didn’t even have to move as the puck ricocheted in off his skate, cutting the deficit to one.

With 5:36 to play in the middle frame, 18-year-old rookie Ben Kindel reclaimed a two-goal lead for the Penguins after he beat Bobrovsky with a one-timer blocker side for his second career NHL goal.

Trailing 3–1 early in the third period, Sam Reinhart got the Panthers back to within one on the power play, beating Tristan Jarry for his third goal of the season.

Despite Florida’s efforts to tie the game, Pittsburgh once again took a two-goal lead moments after Reinhart got on the board.

Connor Dewar put the Penguins up 4-2 after he floated a non-threatening shot towards goal off the rush, which fluttered past Bobrovsky and into the net with 15:11 to play in regulation.

If the script of the game wasn’t clear yet in this story, the Panthers were bound to score again.

They did.

Marchand got his second of the game 11:06 into the third, walking right around Jarry after his linemate Eetu Luostarinen fed him a pass from below the goal-line.

Momentum back on their side, plenty of time left, and the home crowd behind them, Florida was in prime position to tie the game.

And then Crosby scored his second of the game…

After Aaron Ekblad was called for an interference penalty, Crosby got his second power-play goal of the night — and second one-timer goal — to put Pittsburgh up 5-3.

Florida’s next game will be against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, Oct 25 at 7 p.m. ET.