Jokinen scores winner to lift Panthers over Pens
Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and Panthers right winger Jaromir Jagr battle for the puck Monday during the second period.
Penguins center Oskar Sundqvist attempts a shot on Panthers goalie Al Montoya Monday during the first period.
SUNRISE, Fla. – Jussi Jokinen scored the winning goal in a shootout to lead the Florida Panthers over the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 Monday.
Nick Bjugstad also scored in the shootout and in regulation for the Panthers. Al Montoya made 31 saves.
The Panthers won for the first time in three games, and beat Pittsburgh for the first time in three games this season.
After Jokinen scored, Montoya stopped Matt Cullen in the fifth round of the shootout to seal the win. Sidney Crosby scored in the shootout for the Penguins.
Chris Kunitz scored in regulation for the Penguins and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 27 shots.
Kunitz scored with 3:19 left in regulation to tie it at 1. Kunitz shot from the slot and it went over Montoya’s glove and under the crossbar.
The Panthers took a 1-0 lead on Bjugstad’s goal in the first. Alex Petrovic passed from above the right circle to Bjugstad to the left of the crease. His one-timer got past Fleury at 7:30. The goal was Bjugstad’s first in nine games.
Jaromir Jagr celebrated his 44th birthday Monday, but was held pointless. Jagr is the fifth non-goalie to play in an NHL game at 44 years or older.
Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez dropped the puck for the opening faceoff. … Panthers F Greg McKegg, recalled from AHL Portland on Sunday after C Aleksander Barkov was placed on injured reserve, played in his first NHL game of the season. … C Quinton Howden (upper body) and C Brandon Pirri (ankle) were scratches Monday. … Penguins C Evgeni Malkin missed his sixth straight game with a lower-body injury.