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Surging Penguins make a stop in Florida

Nov 22, 2010 - 4:21 PM (Sports Network) - While Sidney Crosby has been rolling all season long, it is a resurgence from goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury that has the Penguins charging up the Atlantic Division standings.

Fleury could be in line for a sixth straight start tonight when Pittsburgh visits the Florida Panthers, who kick off a three-game homestand tonight looking for a fourth straight victory at BankAtlantic Center.

It is no surprise that Crosby is among the league leaders with 14 goals, 19 assists and 33 points. What did shock the Penguins early was Fleury's 1-6-0 mark through his first eight starts that led to increased playing time for backup Brent Johnson.

Fleury, though, has been in net for each game during Pittsburgh's current 4-0-1 run, posting a 2.14 goals-against average. He made 30 saves and stopped both skaters faced in a shootout during Friday's 5-4 victory over Carolina.

Crosby posted a goal and notched season highs with three assists and four points before scoring in the shootout along with Kris Letang. Crosby has eight goals and 10 helpers over an eight-game point streak and notched his 19th career game with at least four points.

Chris Kunitz added a pair of goals in Pittsburgh's second straight victory and Evgeni Malkin finished with a season-high three assists, picking up his 250th career helper and 400th career point in the process.

"That's not the kind of game defensively that we want to play," said Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma as his club did allow the game-tying goal with less than one minute left in regulation. "We're fortunate to have a four-point night from Sid, getting that thing in the shootout and picking up two points."

Crosby has 11 goals and 23 points in 19 career games versus the Panthers, while Fleury is 4-6-0 with a 3.51 GAA versus them.

The Panthers hope to extend a three-game home winning streak tonight after splitting a four-game road trip. They capped the trek with a 4-1 victory over the Islanders, highlighted by Mike Santorelli's first career two-goal game.

Stephen Weiss and Marty Reasoner also scored for the Panthers, who picked up all four goals during an eight-minute span in the second period. Tomas Vokoun made 39 saves.

"I think we just stuck to our game plan," Santorelli said. "We were moving our feet and our forecheck routes and getting pucks to the net. They went in for us tonight."

Michael Frolik picked up his 100th career point with an assist on Weiss' goal.

Weiss, though, suffered an ankle injury that could force him to miss tonight's game, while Rostislav Olesz is doubtful after missing Saturday's victory with a broken middle finger suffered in a loss to Boston on Thursday.

Though Pittsburgh took three out of four from Florida last year, all three setbacks for the Panthers came beyond regulation. Vokoun started each game and posted a 2.41 GAA, giving him a 7-7-4 mark and two ties in his career when facing the Penguins with a 2.60 GAA.

Pittsburgh has still won five of seven and 10 of the past 14 meetings overall, but suffered a 6-2 setback in the last meeting in Florida on Jan. 3. Vokoun had 48 saves in that one and Radek Dvorak posted his third career hat trick.