SUNRISE, Fla. — How the Penguins tamed the Florida Panthers during a 4-2 victory on Thursday at FLA Live Arena felt familiar. Stellar goaltending. A potent power play and stout special teams. Outplaying the opponent in the final period.
But there was a potentially worrisome development, as coach Mike Sullivan's team stretched its season-long winning streak to seven games: After he was credited for scoring a third-period goal at 8:05, Evgeni Malkin went down in a heap and was helped to the Penguins dressing room in obvious pain.
Malkin absorbed the brunt of a Sidney Crosby point shot on the right leg, seemingly above the knee that he had surgically repaired in September 2021 and below where his pants might've lessened the blow.
