PITTSBURGH, March 9 (UPI) -- James Neal and Evgeni Malkin scored shootout goals Friday to bring the Pittsburgh Penguins their eighth straight victory, a 2-1 decision over Florida.
The winning streak has not only pushed the Penguins into a solid playoff position, it has given them a chance to win their division. Pittsburgh went into Friday's action trailing the New York Rangers by six points for the Atlantic Division lead.
Marc-Andre Fleury allowed only a first-period goal by Tomas Fleischmann and made 28 saves for the win.
Fleury stopped Wojtek Wolski and Mikael Samuelsson in the shootout to clinch the victory.
Steve Sullivan forged a 1-1 tie for Pittsburgh by scoring on a backhander 2:56 into the third period.
The Penguins have not lost since Feb. 19, when they dropped a 6-2 decision against Buffalo. Two of the eight wins in the streak have come in a shootout.
Jose Theodore made 33 saves for Florida, which has lost four out of five.
