Plucky Penguins Fall Prey to Panthers in Shootout

For 20 minutes and change last night at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, it looked as though our plucky Penguins were poised to pull off yet another upset against a playoff-bound club.

After falling behind the Panthers on a goal by Sam Reinhart midway through the opening period, the Pens proceeded to snatch the lead on a pair of tallies by Bryan Rust and a third by Evgeni Malkin at 6:51 of the second.

Up 3-1, we appeared to have the defending Cup champs (who’d played and lost the day before) sagging and on the ropes, awaiting the knockout punch.

Then Rust was whistled off for hooking and the sharpshooting Reinhart struck on the ensuing power play. From that point on, the game literally…