Panthers 'MASH Unit" drop heartbreaking 3-2 Overtime loss in Saanich

What a game!  Watching the young Peninsula Panthers battle with everything it had, it was hard to believe that it was only September 3rd.  And although they dropped an absolute heartbreaking 3-2 OT loss in Saanich at the George Pearkes Arena early on Saturday evening, Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations had to be more than pleased with the compete and heart his squad put on display.

"I couldn't have asked for any more and love our progress.  We are learning more each time out," uttered Tippett in the hallway outside his Club's dressing room after the emotional game. 

The game did not come without a cost.  The Club lost promising 17-year-old rookie Holden Cochrane with a leg injury when he was crunched in the 2nd stanza by a big hit near the Braves bench.  Cochrane limped off and it would prove to be the end of his night. 

Michael Sproule was whistled down in the same period after a hit on Braves Dale McCabe and was sent for an early shower for what the official saw as a checking from behind. 

With two men already out, the Panthers best forward in Trevor Owens was hit awkwardly into the wall in the offensive zone and he did not get up.  He was helped from the ice and was heading to the hospital for an X-Ray on his ankle.  Although it was first thought the ankle had been broken, the Panthers and Owens are hoping that it is a stretched ligament that will not keep him out of action for more than 2-4 weeks. 

The damage was not over.  17-year-old Shawn Parkinson who had been playing lights out for the entire game and had his team ahead 2-1 with only four minutes left in regulation time was mauled in a scramble in his crease.  Although there was no penalty on the play, Parkinson was left motionless on the ice.  Athletic Therapist Josh Armstrong was in the dressing room with Owens and had to rush out to deal with Parkinson's injury.  It appeared as though the hulking netminder had popped out his shoulder however after several minutes on the ice it slid back into place and the pain immediately left.  Parkinson wanted to continue but it would not be in the cards and he was replaced by 17-year-old Liam Tutte.

The ever-optimistic Tippett expounded on the situation.  "Injuries are part of the game - but I wish they didn't come in an avalanche like our group was hit with.  We'll see what we get from the medical staff tomorrow.  Here is an opportunity for other guys to step into important roles."

McCabe opened the scoring at the 12:42 mark of the opening period on the power play but the lead was short-lived when only 18 ticks later Panthers veteran Kai Turner tipped in a Zach Evans wrist shot from the point to beat a surprised Brice Schiebel tending the net for the Braves.  Josh Poland picked up a helper on the play to close out the chapter as the two teams skated to their respective dressing rooms for the first intermission.

Owens scored what was easily the goal of the game midway through the 2nd stanza when he took a pass from Sproule, split the visitors defence and went in alone on Schiebel.  The slick forward faked a wrist shot before going to the backhand and lifting the disk deftly to the top of the cage.  It would prove to be the only goal of the period and left the Panthers with a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.

And it looked like it might remain that way.  Both Parkinson and Schiebel made significant saves going down the stretch however with Tutte in the game and with Schiebel on the bench for the extra attacker, Nick Guerra scored for the home squad at the 18:31 mark after a scramble in front to send the game into an extra frame.  And Braves veteran Scott Henderson would prove to be the hero when he scored the winner only 36 seconds into OT to send his squad spilling onto the ice to celebrate in the corner to the left of Tutte.

The Braves held a 34 to 28 edge in shots.  Guerra, Owens and Schiebel were selected as the three stars.

The Panthers next action will be Friday night at the Panorama Recreation Centre when they host the visiting Comox Valley Glacier Kings.  The puck will drop at 7:30 pm