Playoff implications front and centre as Panthers host Wolves in rare Monday night affair

There will be a lot of eyes watching the game on Monday night when the Peninsula Panthers host the Westshore Wolves in VIJHL action.  Although it will be the only Monday night game in the VIJHL this regular season, the importance of the contest will not be lost on either of the teams or on the Kerry Park Islanders or the Oceanside Generals.

The Panthers are attempting to chase down the Generals and currently trail their up-Island foes by five points after bouncing them on Friday night by a 4-1 count.  The local "Cats" and Generals will be facing each other on February 20th in a Sudden-Life game and each point now counts in terms of who will have home ice advantage.

On Saturday night the Islanders bested the slumping Comox Valley Glacier Kings 9-4 and that result coupled with a Braves 3-0 win over the Wolves the same night left the Islanders one point ahead of the Wolves in the race for the 3rd rung in the South Division.  Both squads have 7 games remaining.

"When the game was cancelled back in October we were fortunate to find a date on January 30th," said Panthers GM Pete Zubersky.  "I thought that the game might have some significance and it certainly does now, and not only for our Club.  The Wolves need the game as well and both Oceanside and Kerry Park will be waiting the result with a lot of interest.  It is really a playoff game for both sides.

The puck drops at 7:30 pm at the Panorama Recreation Centre.