Hey Brother: Penguins, Crosby Stay Hot and Beat Panthers

SUNRISE — The Pittsburgh Penguins are not thought to be a playoff team this season, but if they play like they did Thursday against the Florida Panthers, perhaps they will be.

Thursday, the Penguins took the first lead on a goal by Sidney Crosby and held onto it throughout, beating the Panthers 5-3 for their fourth straight win.

Crosby had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (6-2-0).

Florida (4-5-0) lost at home for the first time this season and has lost five of six despite a very strong push in the second half of the game.

After a slow start, the Panthers ended up outshooting Pittsburgh 37-16 — and held a 82-43 shot attempt advantage.

In the final two periods, Florida outshot the Penguins 31-9 but were outscored 4-3.

In only the second meetup between brothers Seth and Caleb Jones, the Penguins grabbed a 2-0 lead and held a pair of 2-goal leads in the game.

Brad Marchand made it 2-1 off a nice pass from Mackie Samoskevich (two assists) midway through the second, only Florida trailed 3-1 going into the third.

Sam Reinhart then added another power play goal off another Samoskevich feed — only Connor Dewar scored on a wobbling shot that found its way past Sergei Bobrovsky a 4:49 of the third.

Marchand had two goals, but so did Crosby; Sid’s second came with 8:11 left and made it a 2-goal game once more.

Crosby has scored in four straight games.

Seth Jones had two assists — but is now 0-2 against his younger brother.

NOTEBOOK: PENGUINS @ PANTHERS

• Marchand has 23 goals against the Penguins which is second-most in his career. He has 27 against the Sabres.
• Crosby has 19 goals in 32 games against the Panthers. The only active players with more: Alex Ovechkin (36 in 49 games) and Patrick Kane (17 in 43).
• The Panthers were trying to go 4-0 at home to start a season for the fourth time in franchise history. The others: 2021 (11-0-0), 1995 (4-0-0), and 2006 (4-0-0).

GOALS OF THE GAME

• Penguins 1, Panthers 0 (6:24 1st PP): After a battle for the puck in front of the net, Sidney Crosby gets fed from an endzone pass from Bryan Rust and hammers home a shot from the left circle.
• Penguins 2, Panthers 0 (6:36 2nd); Erik Karlsson sends a shot through traffic that Anton Lundell cannot handle in front of the net, Rickard Rakell gets to it and pushes it past Sergei Bobrovsky.
• Penguins 2, Panthers 1 (8:26 2nd PP): Brad Marchand camps out on the side of the cage and Mackie Samoskevich finds him with a laser from the left circle. Marchand tap-tap-taps it in past Tristan Jarry.
• Penguins 3, Panthers 1 (15:24 2nd): Ben Kindel hammers a one-timer from the left circle on a give-and-go from Thomas Novak to give Jarry & Co. some breathing room.
• Penguins 3, Panthers 2 (2:24 3rd PP): Samoskevich makes another terrific play with the advantage, finding Sam Reinhart on the left side. Reinhart’s wrist shot from 8 feet out goes off Jarry and in.
• Penguins 4, Panthers 2 (4:49 3rd): Connor Dewar sent a low shot that skidded across the ice, rolled off Sergei Bobrovsky’s stick and through.
• Penguins 4, Panthers 3 (11:06 3rd): Marchand gets another, scoring off a backhander from the slot.
• Penguins 5, Panthers 3 (11:49 3rd PP): Crosby gets another, and that’s that.

FHN’S 3 STARS

• 1. Sidney Crosby, Penguins
• 2. Brad Marchand, Panthers
• 3. Tristan Jarry, Penguins

ON DECK: GAME No. 10

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS at FLORIDA PANTHERS

• When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
• Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
• Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FTL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (Naples/FTM)
• Streaming: Panthers+; ESPN+
• Radio: WQAM; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
• Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
• This Season — At Florida: Saturday. At Vegas: Nov. 10.
• Last Season: Tied 1-1
• All-time Regular Season Series: Tied 7-7
• Postseason History — 2023 Stanley Cup Final: Vegas d. Florida 4-1
• Up Next for the Florida Panthers: Tuesday vs. Anaheim Ducks, 7 p.m.