Panthers hold off Penguins for fourth win in row

PITTSBURGH-- Anthony Duclair scored a tiebreaking goal to equal his NHL career high, and the Florida Panthers held on for a 4-3 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday.

Carter Verhaeghe scored in the third period, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 32 saves for the Panthers (39-13-5), who extended their winning streak to four games, including a 6-1 win at the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.
"I really liked our resilience and our grit, and certain situations in the puck battles," Florida coach Andrew Brunette said. "Down the stretch, I thought we did a lot of good things that allowed us to win the hockey game where we really buckled down and defended. Maybe people don't see us as a strong defensive team, but I think we are willing and we are capable.
"These are great experiences for us to learn from. They were able to do it against a really good hockey team on the road."

Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (34-15-9), who had won three of four. Tristan Jarry made 25 saves.
"A lot of it boils down to attention to detail, knowing what your job is when we don't have the puck," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "What your role is, what your responsibility is. It takes collective effort to win in this league. When we bring a sufficient level of structure to our game without the puck, I think we're hard to play against."
Duclair gave Florida a 3-2 lead on a power play at 7:02 of the second period with a wrist shot from the slot. His 23rd goal extended his goal streak to three games.
Verhaeghe made it 4-2 at 11:11 of the third with a snap shot on a 2-on-1.
"Everyone played well. Everyone was playing simple hockey," Verhaeghe said. "It was almost like a playoff style. I think these games on the road are really going to be beneficial in the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs."
Crosby got the Penguins within 4-3 with a shot off the stick of Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad with 2:09 remaining.
"We're putting ourselves in a tough spot, going down against a really good hockey team like that," Crosby said. "There's no great explanation. We've just got to be better, especially from the start. Give ourselves a better chance. But we've battled back a lot of times in the second period, have good second periods.

"It's still tough. You're putting yourself in a tough spot, having to do that consistently.
Sam Reinhart gave Florida a 1-0 lead at 12:43 of the first period. He batted the puck out of midair after Pittsburgh forward Kasperi Kapanen attempted a clear from outside of the crease that hit Reinhart's leg.
Ekblad made it 2-0 at 14:38 on a wrist shot through traffic from the point.
"That's how you win against good teams, win the net-front battles," Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin said. "They scored two, obviously, there. We can clear the puck a little bit better and, also, box guys out early. That's a main focus for us."

Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel scored nine seconds apart to tie it in the second.
Rust made it 2-1 at 3:07 when a pass intended for Zach Aston-Reese went off Ekblad's stick. It ended a five-game goal drought after he scored 17 in the previous 19 games.
Guentzel tied it 2-2 at 3:16 on a one-timer from the left circle off a face-off win by Crosby.
"I think we thought we were playing well. Sometimes you get these breaks," Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau said. "Two quick goals obviously hurt, but we just stuck together. It's just the identity of our team. That's what we did."
NOTES: Rust and Penguins forward Brock McGinn each played his 400th NHL game. Rust also had an assist in 20:43; McGinn had one shot on goal in 13:57. ... Panthers forward Anton Lundell did not play because of a lower-body injury sustained Monday. ... Pittsburgh forward Teddy Blueger wore a full face shield and had two shots on goal and three hits in 13:45 of ice time after missing 16 games with a fractured jaw. ... Ekblad (15 goals, 35 assists) is the fourth Panthers defenseman to score 50 points in a season (Keith Yandle, 62 in 2018-19 and 56 in 2017-18; Robert Svehla, 57 in 1995-96; Brian Campbell, 53 in 2011-12).