Panthers downed 4-2 by Cougars

The Peninsula Panthers lost an important game to the Victoria Cougars as the VIJHL schedule winds down. With three games remaining, the Panthers might just need to run the table moving into the playoffs if the Club still has hopes of nailing down 2nd place in the VIJHL South Division.  To do just that, the Panthers are now in need of some help to accomplish the feat.

As the rain drizzled down outside the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre, both the Panthers and the visiting Victoria Cougars prepared for a 7:30 pm start Friday night.  The game was an important one for both teams in terms of the standings.  The Panthers continued their battle for 2nd spot with the Westshore Wolves and Kerry Park Islanders while the Cougars were hooked up in a battle for 1st place in the League with the Campbell River Storm.

Alex Olson garnered the start between the pipes for the home "Cats" while the visitors chose to go with Anthony Ciurro to mind their net. 

"We were in tough in this one right off the bat," explained Pete Zubersky.  "Our lineup was decimated but our kids knew the importance of the game and really played well enough to get one or two points.  Kai Turner, Michael Neale and Ben Dawson were out with injuries while Ty Tremblay and Justin Post were nicked by the flu bug.  Michael Sproule and Spencer Loverock were not feeling great but played anyway.  Koby Hale was writing a test at University and was really late.  And Marty Westhaver was hurt early in the game with what looks like a season-ending injury.  Trevor Owens could not play in the 3rd period because he was feeling sick.  We are not making up any excuses.  We needed the game and didn't get it done, but we have three big games moving forward and hopefully we can get some guys back.  We may need to run the table in our last three games to get into 2nd, that's our goal right now."

The Panthers played well in the opening period and took the play to the Cougars for most of it.  But with 2:06 remaining, John Kretzschmar cruised down the left side for the visitors and ripped a shot at Olson from the face-off circle.  The rebound came back to Ryan Carson and he made no mistake in beating Olson for the 1-0 lead.  And at the 19:34 mark the Cougars struck again.  Kretzschmar picked up a pass in the slot and although he did not seem to get a lot on the shot, the puck drizzled through to Olson and once again a rebound was there for the taking.  This time Dom Kolbeins converted and the Panthers went to the intermission trailing 2-0.

Mitch Moloney gave the Panthers life at the 7:48 mark of the 2nd frame.  Josh Poland made a crafty play to get the puck to Moloney at the right point and the big reargaurd hammered a 60' blast past a startled Ciurro.  The lead was short-lived.  Kretzschmar once again hit the scoresheet when he beat Olson at 11:16 after taking a pass from Ryan Lawson on a pretty 2-on-1.  And the Cougars added to the lead just two minutes later when Nathan Looysen gathered in a puck in the slot and snapped a shot high in the cage past Olson.  The Panthers were not ready to mail in the points and at the 14:24 mark Grayden Hohl and Trevor Owens combined to get the puck in front of Ciurro and it was Michael Sproule who would tip the puck to pull the Panthers within two goals once again at 4-2.  There would be no more scoring.

The Panthers played a hectic final stanza outshooting the visitors by 14-5, but both Ciurro and Olson held firm.  Both tenders faced 26 shots with Ciurro being just a bit better on the evening in posting the win.  Kretzschmar was full value for his 1st star selection while Moloney and Garnett Roberts picked up the 2nd and 3rd star selection respectively.

The Panthers will scoreboard watch on Saturday night when the Wolves travel to Kerry Park in a crucial South matchup.  "We are looking with interest in what happens in this one," said Zubersky.  Kerry Park has a tough schedule remaining with the Wolves tonight, Braves next Friday and then the Cougars twice before finishing off with the Bucs.  We play the Wolves next Wednesday at the Q Centre and Friday back here.  Those are going to factor in the standings and I would expect that next Friday night our barn will be packed."   

The puck will drop next Friday at 7:30 pm.