PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The Penguins squeaked by the Carolina Hurricanes, beating them 2-1 in a shootout Tuesday night at the CONSOL Energy Center.

The Hurricanes were desperate and the physical tone was set early as Deryk Engelland and Tim Gleason dropped gloves in the first period.

Carolina had a 1-0 lead when Evgeni Malkin tied it after stealing a bouncing puck from Eric Staal.

Marc-Andre Fleury had 25 saves, while Cam Ward finished with 40 saves.

Jeff Skinner, who just returned after missing 15 games from a concussion, took a hard check from Brooks Orpik in the third period. Skinner remained on the ice for several moments, but was able to return to the game.

In the shootout, Malkin was up first and made a nifty move to beat Cam Ward to give the Penguins the early edge. However, Jussi Jokinen responded immediately with a top-shelf backhander to even things up.

Chris Kunitz and Skinner were both denied in the second round of the shootout setting up a showdown between James Neal and Eric Staal.

Neal beat Ward to the stick side to force Staal to score to keep Carolina alive.

Fleury came out and attempted a poke check, missed and was still able to get his left pad out to stop Staal to give the Penguins their third straight win.

They will be back in action Thursday night when they travel to the Big Apple to take on the New York Rangers.

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