Panthers deserve win, lose 3-2 in Overtime

It was an exciting affair at the Panorama Recreation Centre on Friday night.  It took 69:06 of frantic action to determine the winner, a breakaway goal from the Kerry Park Islander Ty Smith at the 4:06 mark of double overtime which enabled his squad to knock off the Peninsula Panthers by a 3-2 count.  There certainly were plenty of storylines to go around on the evening but the only thing that players, coaches, fans and most likely the officials were talking about was a disallowed Panthers' goal with just 1:44 to go in regulation time.

The Panthers started the game skating in quicksand and the Islanders were happy to capitalize.  After a long, long scramble in front of Panthers starter Shawn Parkinson, the visitors Samson McLean finally banged one to the back of the net.  The play was all Islanders for the opening 11 minutes of the game and at one point, Parkinson and his mates had been outshot 13-0.

"For some reason we have a great warmup and then the first few minutes of the game we stand still doing our best totem pole imitation.  Shawn held us in early," explained Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Brad Tippett.

But at the 11:21 mark, Michael Sproule stripped an Islanders defenceman of the puck in the neutral zone and dashed in alone on goaltender Chase Anderson.  Anderson came out to challenge, however Sproule went to the roof and made no mistake in knotting the game at 1-1.  It was the Panthers first shot on goal.  The goal seemed to ignite the "Cats" and although the score remained the same after 20 minutes were in the books, there were now two teams on the ice competing for a win.

The Panthers dominated for parts of the 2nd frame using grit and hustle to force turnovers deep in the Islanders zone.  Setting a bit of a spark to the powder keg was the line of Braeden Hansen, Jarrod Lucoe and Kye Warmenhoven as they banged and crashed and gave the Panthers momentum and energy.

"In the last two games it has been that line that has sparked the team," explained Tippett.  "They hunt the puck with tenacity and create chaos."

At the 11:01 mark a mistake behind the Parkinson allowed for Jacob Malloch to come out front on a wrap-around attempt and the puck would slip by the lanky 17-year-old netminder.  But the play did not seem to discourage the home squad.  With just over four minutes remaining in the period, Zach Evans made a nice play on a loose puck and was able to get it to 17-year-old Jack McMillan.  The youthful forward took a stride towards Anderson from high on the wall and let a wristshot go.  Sproule was heading to the net and the puck seemed to bounce off him, past Anderson and to the back of the net knotting the game one again.  The two Clubs skated to the room and it looked like the next goal might just be the winner.

Both squads exchanged chances in the final stanza, both Parkinson and Anderson holding down their respective forts.  With just a tick under two minutes remaining in regulation, Panthers veteran Josh Poland sped through the zone towards Anderson, clearly on a mission.  An Islanders forward was forced to haul him down and when he was sent to the sin bin, it was the opportunity the Club was looking for.  After the ensuing faceoff in the Islanders zone, the Panthers obtained possession and forced the puck to the net.  Kai Turner spotted the loose puck to the right of Anderson and flicked it past the visitors goaltender right to the back of the net in what looked to be the winning goal.   There was some uncertainty with the officals crew and after a period of time the goal was waved off.

"I could not understand the ruling," stated General Manager Pete Zubersky.  "We asked for an explanation and the only thing we were told is that the Ref did not have it in.  I'm not sure what that meant.  I think everyone in the rink had it in, even the Islanders.  After the game I watched the video and I think it was simply a case of the stripes being in the wrong position.  The Ref came from the corner to the left of Anderson when there was a scramble and I think he probably was forced high into the slot area rather than going right to the post for a good look.  There were a lot of players in front, it would have been tough to see from where he was when the goal was scored.  It's a development League for players and officials and everyone makes a mistake.  It's a learning process.  Unfortunately for us this one cost us a win."

The two Clubs went toe-to-toe for 9:06 of overtime before the Smith winner and there was an added feeling of disappointment for the players in the way the game played out.

Tippett spoke softly after the game was in the books from outside the the Panthers dressing room.  "I give the kids credit.  They kept battling in spite of having what should have been the go-ahead goal called back.  We had the second point stolen from us tonight and likely deserved a point in Victoria on Thursday."

"I think all of these experiences make a Club better," said Zubersky.  "We are fighting through a lot of adversity right now.  We have only been out of one game and could have easily had three or four wins on the board right now.  We have the youngest squad in the VIJHLL, maybe in Junior Hockey.  At one point we were on the power play in the 2nd period and we had our two 16's and three 17's out to start it.  These kids are in the early learning stages of how to compete in Junior Hockey.  I asked Liam Tutte about the intensity of the game compared to Midget and he could not believe the difference.  We looked young the first eleven minutes of the game.  Our leaders in the room have to be part of making sure the guys are ready.  We cannot babysit kids before a game, they have to shoulder some of this.  And the veterans have to be ready themselves.  We are going through these growing pains right now but all of these experiences are going to pay off down the road."

The Panthers travel to the Westshore to take on the Wolves next Wednesday night and will return to the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre next Friday night for the back half of the home-and-home series.  The puck drops at 7:30 pm