Pens win seventh straight as stars shine vs. Panthers

Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin each scored a goal and dished an assist, leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to their seventh straight win, defeating the host Florida Panthers, 4-2, on Thursday night in Sunrise, Fla.

The Penguins, who are on a 14-2-2 run, also got two goals from Jake Guentzel, including an empty-netter. Sidney Crosby added two assists.

Malkin scored his goal when Crosby's blistering wrist shot went in off his right leg to give the Penguins a 3-1 lead with 11:55 left in the game. Malkin crumpled to the ice and was helped to the locker room.

Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry was spectacular, making 32 saves to improve to 14-3-3. He is 10-0-1 in his past 11 games.

Florida got goals from Ryan Lomberg and Sam Reinhart. Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who made his fifth straight start, had 35 saves.

The Panthers were without star winger Matthew Tkachuk (illness), who leads Florida in assists (25) and points (39).

Florida was without five more forwards, all due to injuries: Colin White, Chris Tierney, Anthony Duclair, Anton Lundell and Patrick Hornqvist.

However, Carter Verhaeghe, who leads the Panthers with 15 goals, returned after missing Tuesday's game due to illness. He had one assist in his return.

Florida opened the scoring with 5:30 expired in the first period as Eric Staal's shot was saved by Jarry before Lomberg scored on a bad-angle rebound.

Pittsburgh tied the score on Letang's short-handed goal with 4:17 gone in the second. On the rush, Bryan Rust threaded a perfect pass to set up Letang.

The Penguins took a 2-1 lead on a power-play goal with 7:18 left in the second. On the play, Malkin's shot bounced in off Guentzel's right skate. Bobrovsky wanted the goal disallowed for a kick, but the Panthers did not ask for a video review.

After Crosby's shot deflected off Malkin to make it 3-1, Florida cut its deficit to one goal. Verhaeghe's long backhand pass found Reinhart, who beat Jarry stick-side on a blast from the left circle with 9:46 left.

But Guentzel's empty-netter with 1:18 to play sealed the game.

--Field Level Media

1/3: Dec 15, 2022; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) protects the puck after a shot during the second period against the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

2/3: Dec 15, 2022; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Nick Cousins (21) protects the puck from Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph (73) during the second period at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

3/3: Dec 15, 2022; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour (62) moves the puck ahead of Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson (28) during the second period at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports