Islanders knock off Panthers 7-4

On Friday evening at the Panorama Recreation Centre things seemed to be going well for the home side.  The Peninsula Panthers had just completed their 7:00 pm warmup, the ice had been greased and Clayton Butler had belted out the National Anthem.  The puck was dropped at the usual time and those in attendance could see a lot of energy from a squad that seems to be figuring things out as of late.

For the first 30 minutes of the game, the Peninsula Panthers controlled the action and were ahead 2-0 on a 1st period marker by Holden Cochran and a beautiful tally off the stick of Carson Cox 4:44 into the 2nd frame.  Life seemed good on the Peninsula!

But the feeling came to a crashing end when at the 10:29 mark, Kerry Park Islanders Caleb Franklin beat Panthers starter Shawn Parkinson and the goal blew open the flood gates.  Islanders' Will Connors, Eric LeBlanc and Franklin with his second of the night all scored in the next four minutes, a string that was only interrupted when Panthers' Drew Coughlin poked one between the wickets of Rett Rook off a Chase O'Keefe rebound.  The Islanders erruption gave them the lead heading into the intermission after forty minutes had been played.

The Islanders continuted to carry the play in the final stanza and Jarret Malloch gave the visitors a two-goal cushion at the 5:48 mark when he drifted down the middle and let go an innocent looking shot that just ticked off the equipment of O'Keefe on the way to the net.  The deflection was enough to fool Parkinson.  And when Jacob Malloch scored with under 6 minutes left, it seemed like this contest was firmly in the books.

The Panthers went on a power play late in the 3rd period and Parkinson was yanked for an extra attacker.  The "Cats" buzzed around in the Islanders' zone and when a puck squirted out in front, Marshall Brown banged it in at the 16:44 mark for his 3rd goal in as many games.  The Panthers pulled Parkinson again with just over two minutes left in the contest and had several chances to get the game to within a goal.  But at the 18:47 mark, the Islanders cleared the zone and Tanner Tiel made no mistake in finding the open net for the insurance marker and an Islanders 7-4 win.

Parkinson took the loss blocking 26 of 32 shots directed at the Panthers net while Rooke was good on 24 of 28 shots.  Franklin, Coughlin and Islanders' Brian Wilson were selected the contest's three stars.

In an off-ice move, the Peninsula Panthers have shuffled 17-year-old forward Jarrod Lucoe back to his home association in Saanich and he will suit up for the Midget Rep team there as early as Sunday.  Lucoe had two goals and two assists in 11 games during his time with the Junior Club.

"Jarrod was a great young man while out here on the Peninsula and we are hoping that he goes to Midget and lights it up," said Pete Zubersky.  "He showed some great signs while with the Panthers and had a highlight short-handed goal up in Kerry Park earlier in the year.  We all think this is the best move for him.  He should see a lot of ice time and we have offered to affliate him back to our Club so that he can continue to practice with us and perhaps play in some games, depending on his schedule with the Midget team.  We all wish him the best of luck and thank him for his time with our Club."

The Panthers will head North up the Island on Saturday evening and will go head-to-head against the Comox Valley Glacier Kings.  The Club will then travel to the Archie Browing Arena next Thursday for a tilt against the Victoria Cougars before hosting the Saanich Braves next Friday night.  The puck will drop at 7:30 pm.