Penguins 2, Panthers 1 (SO)
PENGUINS 2, PANTHERS 1 (SO): James Neal and All-Star Evgeni Malkin scored in the shootout and Marc-Andre Fleury denied both attempts as Pittsburgh matched a season high with its eighth consecutive victory.
Steve Sullivan tallied in regulation and Jordan Staal set a career high by recording an assist in seven consecutive contests for the Penguins, who have won seven straight and 12 of their last 13 at Consol Energy Center.
Pittsburgh sits four points behind the Atlantic Division-leading New York Rangers, who suffered a 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.
Tomas Fleischmann scored to snap a six-game goalless drought and Jose Theodore turned aside 33 shots for the Southeast Division-leading Panthers, who have dropped four of their last five contests.
Neal opened the shootout by wristing the puck over Theodore's glove and into the net. After Wojtek Wolski was denied, Malkin put Pittsburgh in a commanding position by beating Theodore over the glove again and Mikael Samuelsson's bid missed the net to end the contest.
After a scoreless first period, Florida opened the scoring 7:17 into the second. Wolski's shot sailed wide of the net, but the puck caromed off the back boards and right to Fleischmann. The tally was Fleischmann's 21st of the season - and eighth in 18 career games versus Pittsburgh.
Sullivan leveled the contest at 2:56 of the third period after his shot squeezed past Theodore for his 14th goal of the season and fourth in eight games.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Fleury turned aside 28 shots for Pittsburgh, which won three of the four meetings between the teams this season. ... Florida dropped to 19-1-5 this season when leading after two periods. ... With an assist, Wolski has 10 points in nine career games versus the Penguins. ... Theodore fell to 20-5-3 with one tie in his career versus Pittsburgh.