Malkin's OT Goal Wins It Against Panthers

Evgeni Malkin scored a power play goal 37 seconds into overtime to lift his Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers. The win keeps the Penguins tied at 45 points with the New Jersey Devils for the lead in the Atlantic Division and one point back of the Eastern Conference leading Washington Capitals.

The Panthers struck first, with Steven Reinprecht backhanding a shot past Pens netminder Brent Johnson at 10:25 of the 1st period. The goal was Reinprecht's 11th since the center joined Florida from the Phoenix Coyotes after last season where he had 14 goals in 73 games. Pascal Dupuis tied it 1-1 a couple of minutes later beating Florida goalie Tomas Vokoun with a quick wrist shot as Panthers' defenseman Dmitry Kulikov fell opening up a lane for Dupuis to move in on Vokoun.

Ruslan Fedotenko tipped in a soft pass from Malkin right on Vokoun's doorstep after Malkin snapped up the puck when Pens center Mike Rupp took out two Florida players and forced a turnover deep in the Panthers' end. That goal marked Fedotenko's 5th of the season and his first since November 12th.

Panthers' center Stephen Weiss tied it 4:39 into the 3rd, snapping up a rebound after Bryan McCabe stepped out of the penalty box and broke in on Johnson, but the goalie stoned him. The puck went to Weiss who was trailing and he pulled the puck away from Johnson's poke-check throwing it into the open net as Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang dove almost preventing the goal. For Weiss, that was his 14th in 33 games this year, matching the goal total he had last season in 78 games. He might beat his career high 20 goals this season.

30 seconds into overtime, Florida defenseman Jordan Leopold was sent off for holding, setting up a 4-on-3 power play for Pittsburgh. The Penguins won a faceoff in Florida's end and Sergei Gonchar pass over to Malkin on the right point, with Malkin blasting the game winner past Vokoun. Sidney Crosby got an assist on the play, giving the Pittsburgh captain 38 points, 4th best in the NHL.

The Panthers face the Islanders in New York on Monday, while the Penguins will be at home Tuesday night to take on the Philadelphia Flyers.