Panthers eke out 4-3 overtime win at the expense of the Saanich Braves

The Peninsula Panthers moved back into 2nd place in the VIJHL South Division with an exciting 4-3 overtime win over the visiting Saanich Braves in the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre on Friday evening.  It took exactly 10 seconds into the first overtime frame before veteran Josh Poland lumbered down the left side and ripped a shot that beat Braves' netminder Riley Mathieson for the winner.  The entire Panthers' bench spilled over the boards and joined Poland in a celebration deep in the Braves' zone behind the net while the visitors limped off the ice in obvious disappointment.  It was the first time that the Panthers had led the entire game.  Trevor Owens and Captain Spencer Loverock were awarded helpers on the Poland tally.

After young Clayton Butler belted out the National Anthem, the puck was dropped at centre ice and the Braves immediately took to the attack.  The "Cats" seemed to be killing penalties all night long and whenever an opportunity arrived on their doorstep to grab some momentum in the game, penalty issues seemed to raise its ugly head.  And at 4:49 into the first frame, Braves' Evan Horvath opened the scoring when he beat Panthers' Alex Olson with an ugly goal to the side of the net and from behind the goal line.  It was the only marker in the first stanza in somewhat of an evenly-played period. 

It was all Braves in terms of scoring in the 2nd period when at the 9:36 mark, former Victoria Royals Brandon Fushimi beat Olson through the wickets on the power play.  And with only 40 seconds remaining, Taylor Ledger gathered in the puck below the goal line once again and his centering pass rattled off Olson and once again into the back of the net.  The situation looked gloomy for the home side and although the shots were even, the Panthers trailed 3-0.  In the closing seconds of the 2nd period, Matt Forbes took a pass and then ripped another pass up to a streaking Marty Westhaver in the neutral zone.  Westhaver split the Braves defence and went in all alone on Mathieson however, was stymied on an huge save by the Braves' goaltender.  Mathieson left a huge rebound out and Spencer Loverock, who was pinching up on the play, ripped home the rebound with only 3 ticks left in the period.  The goal seemed to give the Panthers a spark as they left the ice and it was a sign of things to come.

Westhaver and his linemates, Cam Thompson and Justin Post, started the final period for the Panthers and the Club was looking for them to start the period just as they ended the last one.  And they did!  Post hit Thompson on a nice pass in the neutral zone on the first shift and the skilled right winger flew down the right side and around the Braves defenceman.  He was forced behind the net and coming out the other side, he spotted Westhaver who was crashing towards Mathieson.  Thompson dished off a short but effective 4 foot pass and Westhaver did the rest, depositing a shot to the back of the Braves' net only 57 ticks in.  Not to be outdone, Grayden Hohl beat Mathieson the next shift and at the 1:58 mark on helpers from Owens and Ty Tremblay.  Hohl came out from the corner and then wristed a shot on the ice to tie the game and to set up a frantic final period of action.  The Panthers carried the play and seemed determined to put up the win, while the Braves did get a couple great chances, one ringing off the post.  Westhaver at one point raced down the right side and beat Mathieson with a snap shot however, it hit the crossbar and kept the score knotted at 3-3.

The two clubs moved into the extra frame and the Panthers chose to go with three forwards and one defenceman.  It did not take long for Owens and Loverock to feed Poland and the only shot in the overtime by Poland would prove to be the winner.

Mathieson stopped 31 of 35 Panthers shots while Olson was good on 27 of 30 Braves' attempts.  Poland was awarded the 1st star in the game after nailing the winner while Westhaver and Owens were 2nd and 3rd stars respectively.

In other VIJHL action the Kerry Park Islanders lost a tough 5-4 decision in Campbell River and with the Panthers win and the Islanders loss, the Panthers moved back into 2nd place - a point better than the Islanders.  The Westshore Wolves sit in 4th place, 3 points back of the Panthers however, both the Wolves and Islanders have played two less games.

The "Cats" head to Nanaimo on Saturday for a 7:00 pm start against the Buccaneers in yet another huge contest.  The Wolves play up in Comox against the Glacier Kings while the Islanders will head back home and welcome in the Oceanside Generals.  Yes, the playoff race is hot and heavy and after tonight, the Panthers have only 8 games remaining in the regular season.

The Club will be back at home next Friday night when they host the visiting Oceanside Generals with the puck set to drop at 7:30 pm.