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Recat: Malkin A Mess

The Panthers finished off their back-to-back the same way they had started it, with a loss. After dropping a 4-1 decision to the Ottawa Senators last night, they spotted the Pittsburgh Penguins five goals before scoring one themselves in an ugly 5-1 road loss.

The first period would see Patric Hornqvist beat Panthers backup backstop Al Montoya for his 17th of the season, with an assist by Kris Letang. Letang ranks 10th in the NHL with 37 helpers, but only second on his own team.The Panthers led the Penguins with 16 shots on goal to only eight for Pittsburgh.

As the Cats took the entire second period coming up short in trying to lock the score up at one apiece, they again outshot the Pens, by an 11-to-8 count. With just 27 seconds left in the frame, the Penguins doubled their lead on Evggeni Malkin’s 23rd marker of the campaign, unassisted.

The third period would see the Panthers come completely off the rails, giving up a goal to Paul Martin (3) just 19 seconds into the frame. Hornqvist and Malkin each also secured their second goals of the game before the period was even half over. Scottie Upshall prevented a complete whitewash by lighting the lamp for only the sixth time this season, ruining Marc-Andre Fleury’s otherwise spotless night. MAF ended up turning aside 34-of-35, while Montoya allowed all five goals on only 26 shots for an .808 shooting percentage.

Check back early tomorrow for the AM recap by Todd. Next in the chute, the Chicago Blackhawks and a home-and-home series on Tuesday and Thursday. For more on the Pens, check out Pensburgh. Second City Hockey has your Blackhawks news.

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