Stephen Weiss scored game-winner as Florida Panthers edge Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 -NHL Match Update
Both teams entered the third and final period of regulation tied, 2-2, but it was Stephen Weiss who made the tie-breaker and game-winner for the Florida Panthers during the final moments to edge the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-2, on Saturday night, November 19,
2011, at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida, United States.
Weiss was a big reason for winning the matchup, according to Florida head coach, Kevin Dineen. Having won 15 of 22 face offs and blocking a number of shots throughout, Weiss proved to be much more than an all rounder.
"Stephen is really the guy that runs the engine right now", Dineen said. "He does so many good things for us and tonight he needed to do it on the defensive side and then he had three points. He had a heck of a game for us".
Chris Kunitz scored the first goal of the night during the first two minutes of the opening period for his seventh of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season, followed by Brian Campbell to level the match with his second nearly six minutes
later.
Pittsburgh gave two straight penalties after the first two goals of the night as Richard Park and Paul Martin were penalised with minor penalties for tripping and slashing respectively.
Tomas Fleischmann added his eighth of the regular season during their first power play advantage of the second period to take the lead for the Florida Panthers but Jordan Staal came out strong after the midway mark and potted the equaliser once again.
As the final buzzer grew nearer and nearer, both teams were on the edge to score and avoid potential overtime extension which would have them under immense pressure. Weiss made the tie-breaker and held off the Penguins to take the match at the 16:30 mark.
"(Kris Versteeg) was jamming away at it and I was kind of off to the side and just moved in. We were just swiping away and I guess it went in somehow," said Weiss, who also had two assists and blocked five shots.”
Pittsburgh has now lost two matchups in a row and will be looking for a win when they return home to face the New York Islanders on Monday while Florida has the next against the New Jersey Devils on the same day.
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