On paper, it looked like the Pittsburgh Penguins’ home winning streak was going to continue.
They were hosting the Florida Panthers, a team 27 points behind the Penguins in the Eastern Conference standings when the evening started.
But goalie Scott Clemmensen came up big with a 35-save effort and Jesse Winchester channeled his inner Sidney Crosby with three assists, as the Panthers upset the Penguins by a final score of 5-1.
It marks the first loss for the Penguins on home ice at the Consol Energy Center since Nov. 13 - more than two full months. That was against the Philadelphia Flyers, for those in need of the reminder. Because it’s been a while.
“I don’t think you’re ever due for that,” Crosby said afterward, as per NHL.com. “I don’t think we gave ourselves a chance at all with the way we competed. The way we executed was bad, so we got what we deserve there.”
Helping the Panthers cause was the fact they held the aforementioned Crosby and his Canadian Olympic teammate Chris Kunitz off the score sheet entirely.