Anderson, Owens and Hale lead Panthers over Braves 4-3

Hulking 6-4, 210 pound Goaltender Justin Anderson had just been obtained less than 24 hours before the puck was dropped at the George Pearkes Arena in Saanich shortly after 6:30 pm on Friday night.  The Panthers had swung a one-for-one deal just before midnight on Thursday, obtaining Anderson from the Victoria Cougars in exchange for the offensive-minded Defenceman Chase O'Keefe.  O'Keefe had been hot at the time of the exchange but the Panthers Brass were hoping that the big-bodied "Target" would be up to the task between the pipes for the Panthers as they begin the second half of the season.  And based on the results from Friday night in a heart-pounding 4-3 comeback and Double Overtime win in Saanich against the Braves, Anderson looks like he will be all of that and more.  The Stopper who hails from Red Deer, Alberta blocked 41 of 44 shots in Regulation and Overtime to nail down the win, none being bigger than a Braves breakaway midway through the 2nd Overtime period to keep the game locked at 3-3.

The puck was dropped shortly after 6:30 pm and the two teams were like prize fighters for the first several minutes, taking a jab here and a punch there but both Anderson and Braves starter Riley Mathieson held firm between the pipes in the early going.  However a Panthers miscue allowed Braves Evan Horvath to get in behind the defence and he romped in alone on Anderson making no mistake in giving his squad the opening goal and a 1-0 lead at the 13:44 mark.  It would stay that way when the buzzer sounded to end the first stanza.

Brandon Fushimi gave the Braves a 2-0 lead only 2:39 into the middle frame on another gift from the Panthers defence.  Having a couple chances to clear the puck from their own, the simple play failed to materialzie and the puck eventually was turned over.  And Fushimi made no mistake when he snapped a shot past Anderson from the low slot.  But Panthers silky Trevor Owens had an answer only 48 seconds later.  Gathering in a loose puck, Owens skated in on Mathieson and deked to his backhand.  Mathieson seemed to have the answer however Owens waited, and waited and then waited just a little longer before going around the sprawled goaltender before sliding in the marker.  A late Braves goal by Evan Badry with just over two minutes remaining in the period gave the Braves a 3-1 lead looked like it might spell disaster for the Panthers.  A melee occured right at the end of the 2nd period and it although it appeared as though things could get ugly,  cooler heads prevailed and the two Clubs went to their respective dressing rooms with 40 minutes firmly in the books.

Both the Panthers and Braves had some outstanding chances in the final stanza and late in the period at the 15:29 mark Owens once again dug deep into his bag of tricks.  After receiving a pass from Michael Sproule, Owens skated behind the Braves net before a quick wrap-around beat Mathison and drew the Panthers to within a goal at 3-2.  The Panthers pulled Anderson with 40 seconds to go and with him on the bench for the extra attacker and with the clock winding down, a scramble ensued in the crease area of Mathieson.  A couple shots in the scramble left the Braves starter down and out and it would be Koby Hale who was at the right spot at the right time to bang in the biscuit with under one second remaining in the game forcing the affair into extra time.

The first five-minute 4-on-4 overtime period would solve nothing, albeit, both stoppers made brilliant saves to extend the game.  Midway through the 2nd overtime period Anderson saved the day stopping a clearcut Braves breakaway and then held on to the disk for a faceoff to his right.  Koby Hale won the draw and Ty Hermsen subsequently broke out and raced down the right side while Hale darted 180 feet straight towards Mathieson.  Hermsen cut towards the net and made the pass of the night right onto the stick of Hale.  The diminutive pepperpot made no mistake, banging in the 4-3 winner past Mathison at the 2:47 mark of the 5th period.  A happy group of Panthers spilled over the boards and skated the length of the ice with Anderson to join in the celebration.

Head Coach Brad Tippett spoke to his troops after the game and then the tunes from an unusually large speaker in the room belted out the tunes. 

"Another good efort and the extra effort produced some extra breaks," said Tippett. 

Tippett went on, "We had a short bench with a number of regulars missing due to injuries, suspensions and we missed Drew Coughlin who was playing his first game in the BCHL as a callup with the West Kelowna squad.  But we stayed focussed and positive.  We still had a couple of defensive miscues but we are learning to shake them off.  Our group is starting to believe in themselves.  Justin Anderson made a solid debut and was a difference maker.  He is loud and enthusiastic and his communication worked well with our defencemen and that is something that we have missed so far.  I thought that Bailey Ross had one of his best games of the season after being sidelined for a couple weeks with a concussion.  Hermsen and Hale are starting to provide secondary scoring, the lack of which has hurt us since day one.  The two points were big in the standings and as importantly, for our confidence.  We just need to stay focused on getting better each day."

The Panthers and Braves will do it all over again on Saturday evening at 7:30 pm to complete the back end of a home-and-home weekend series.  The game will be at the Panorama Recreation Centre, the only Saturday night at home for the "Cats" from the Peninsula during the regular season.  And if the game is anything close to what it was on Friday night, it will be Junior Hockey entertainment plus!