Silovs stops 26, Penguins shut out Panthers to end four-game skid

PITTSBURGH -- Arturs Silovs made 26 saves, helping the Pittsburgh Penguins end a four-game skid with a 4-0 win against the Florida Panthers at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday.

The shutout was Silovs' second of the season and fourth in the NHL.

"I think today, we’re desperate," Silovs said. "We’re trying to win every single battle and get every single puck. That worked for us.”

Nicholas Robertson scored twice, and Evgeni Malkin and Hendrix Lapierre each had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (4-6-1), who were 1-6-1 in their previous eight games and had allowed at least five goals in each of their previous four games (0-4-0). 

"I think when things aren't going your way, the hope is that it could be an opportunity to come together and correct things that you need to see improved, and improve our overall team game," Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. "Huge credit to the players. I think that's what we saw here tonight. I really thought we had contributions throughout the lineup.

"Obviously, (Silovs) was great. But we've talked about consistency, that's right up there in terms of being the most consistent game of the year."

Cooper Black made 17 saves in his NHL debut for the Panthers (5-4-2), who lost 5-1 at the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday. At 6-foot-9, Black became the tallest goaltender in NHL history. 

"I don't know if it's we're on the spectrum of arrogance and softness that I've allowed to creep into our game," Florida coach Paul Maurice said. "I'm going to find that out here in a couple of days. ... I've got to figure out where it's coming from. I think it's coming from me. So, we've got a good 48 hours to grind on that and come up with an answer.

"I just need to get their attention."

Robertson put the Penguins ahead 1-0 at 15:19 of the first period. He took a pass from Connor Dewar and drifted to the high slot for a wrist shot past Black's glove.

Lapierre made it 2-0 at 9:59 of the second period. Malkin carried the puck from the opposite end on a 3-on-2 rush before moving it to Ville Koivunen, who set up Lapierre for a backhand-to-forehand wrist shot just outside the crease.

The Panthers did not have a shot on goal during a four-minute power play after Silovs was given a double minor for high-sticking Sam Bennett at 16:17.

"We're not playing good at all," Florida forward Matthew Tkachuk said. "It's very frustrating to have a back to back, quick turnaround like this and lay an egg like we did tonight. ... This stuff just can't happen. It's not even how we're losing, it's the way we're playing. It's something that we're going to have to fix in here."

Malkin extended it to 3-0 at 1:40 of the third period, sliding the puck under a diving Gustav Forsling and regaining it for a wrist shot under Black's glove.

"I think (you) just learn from the mistakes, right?" Black said. "You go out there and you see the patience that those guys have on their stick. I think two of their goals, they kind of just waited me out, maybe, a little bit."

Robertson scored an empty-net goal at 17:34 for the 4-0 final, tying Malkin for the team lead with six goals.

"I just think all three periods were consistent," Robertson said. "We didn't let off the gas. Obviously, going into the third with the lead, we wanted to finish it off, and we did."

NOTES: Before Black, Ben Bishop, Mikko Koskinen, Ivan Fedotov and Mads Sogaard were the tallest goalies in NHL history at 6-foot-7 each. Black tied skaters Zdeno Chara, Curtis Douglas and Matt Rempe as the tallest players in NHL history. ... Penguins forward Ben Kindel did not play after briefly losing consciousness while aboard the team plane on Tuesday due to a vasovagal syncope, a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure that reduces blood flow to the brain. He was placed on injured reserve Thursday but could practice as early as next week after further testing, Pittsburgh general manager Kyle Dubas said. ... Pittsburgh forward Egor Chinakhov was a late scratch with a lower-body injury. He is day to day. ... Forsling left after taking a puck to the face late in the third period and did not return. No update was provided.