Jarry makes 36 saves, Penguins defeat Panthers in shootout

PITTSBURGH --Tristan Jarry made 36 saves in a 3-2 shootout win for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Florida Panthers at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday.

Jarry, who had allowed seven goals on 10 shots in three previous shootouts this season, surrendered one to Jonathan Huberdeau in the second round but made saves on Aleksander Barkov, Patric Hornqvist and Anton Lundell.
It was the third straight game that went to the shootout for the Penguins (1-2).
"It's exciting. Obviously, it's something I wanted to get better at," Jarry said. "I wanted to win. It's nice that we've had so many in a row. We've had the opportunity to get points. I think that's something where I could have gotten better. I think it was something I had to improve upon."
Bryan Rust scored in the third round for Pittsburgh, and Jeff Carter won it in the fourth.
Teddy Blueger and Evan Rodrigues scored for the Penguins (5-3-4), who are 2-0-2 since center Sidney Crosby and coach Mike Sullivan entered NHL COVID-19 protocol. Assistant Todd Reirden has filled in for Sullivan.
Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves in his return from missing three games with an upper-body injury for the Panthers (10-2-2), who have lost three games in the past four days.
"It was definitely nice to be back. Nice to compete with the guys," Bobrovsky said. "It was a great game. It was a fun game. I thought it was a great point for us. It was quite a big point. So it could be two points, but it's one point. We'll move on."
Barkov scored on a snap shot from the slot to tie the game 2-2 at 2:30 of the third period. He has scored 10 points (seven goals, three assists) during a personal eight-game point streak.

Anthony Duclair seemed to give the Panthers the lead with a one-timer at 15:15, but the play was ruled offside following a successful Penguins challenge.
"Just a little unfortunate, but I don't think it was deflating," Florida forward Carter Verhaeghe said. "I think in the third period, we liked the way we were playing. We got one back and we tied the game pretty late there. We liked the way we were playing. We just have to kind of keep it going."
Florida was 0-for-4 on the power play, including one after Pittsburgh forward Jake Guentzel was called for goaltender interference with 1:31 remaining in overtime.
"I think I've had concerns all year with [the power play]," Panthers coach Andrew Brunette said. "It's a little bit out of sync or it's not quite as smooth. ... It's been a little stagnant. Did some things, I think, on the first one tonight that I really liked. But could be better, for sure."
The Penguins have allowed at least 38 shots on goal in four of their past five games.
"We want our guys playing on their toes and being aggressive as five-man units," Reirden said. "There were some times we were disconnected as a group. … That's not a team to go chance-for-chance against. They've done that for the first part of this year, and that's why they're at the top of the League."
Blueger put the Penguins ahead 1-0 at 13:37 of the first period. Kris Letang skated around Owen Tippett and set up Blueger for a one-timer with a backhand pass to the slot.
Frank Vatrano tied it 1-1 at 16:55 of the first after Lundell found him on a 2-on-1 for a wrist shot.
Rodrigues gave Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead on a breakaway at 17:53 of the second period. He skated in alone toward Bobrovsky and took a snap shot from the slot before Florida defenseman Gustav Forsling could tip the puck away with a dive.
"[Winning in the shootout] was huge. I think, as a whole team, that was big," Rodrigues said. "Especially, we go down in the shootout. Battle back. Two big goals by [Rust and Carter]. [Jarry] makes two big saves. That was a huge one for us."
NOTES: Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson returned after missing three games while in COVID-19 protocol but left at 13:05 of the first period after taking a hit from Tippett. There was no update. ... Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel was minus-1 with one shot on goal and two hits in 18:52 after missing three games while in COVID-19 protocol. … Hornqvist had two shots on goal and three hits in 14:29 in his first game in Pittsburgh since being acquired in a trade from the Penguins on Sept. 24, 2020. … Pittsburgh has played past regulation in four straight games for the first time since April 6-13, 2014.