Panthers "Cat-nipped" by Cougars

The Victoria Cougars busted down the left side at the 1:20 mark of the 1st period at the Panorama Recreation Centre.  The puck seemed to bang off a couple players and somehow ended up being deposited behind Peninsula Panthers' Chris Akerman.  There was a short delay before the team of stripes determined that the goal would count and it was awarded to Cougars bulky forward Matthew Sparrow.  It was only the first shot on Akerman and it would prove to be the winner.  Matteo Albinati added the only other tally midway through the final stanza on the Victoria Cougars' umpteenth power play and Cougars' starter Nate Reinhart played out of his mind blocking everything that came his way as the visitors "Catnipped" the Panthers 2-0 in a battle of the Cats.

The penalty parade started early when at the 3:14 mark, Panthers' Thomas Spink was whistled for cross-check that could have easily been a "play-on."  The tone for the game was set and in the end, a huge part of an exciting and hard-fought affair was played with special teams. 

Head Coach Brad Tippett was understandably frustrated when he commented on the game on Saturday morning.  "I thought tonight was one of our best all round games this season.  We had intensity, commitment and effort.  We could have been sharper around the net and burried some chances but we played well enough to earn those chances.  Reinhart won the game for them.  They got a goal off a puck that bounced off one of our players and one on their 7th power play.  I know it is hard to say that we played hard and disciplined while taking eight penalties, but anyone at the game would understand.  There were a total of 15 special teams situations, that is 50% of the game.  This makes bench management very frustrating and it's hard to keep everyone in the game as much as we wanted to.  Our penalty kill was excellent all night.  Our power play generated great chances but Reinhart slammed the door.  We needed to get more traffic in front of him.  I left the building with mixed emotions.  We certainly played well enough to win and in fact did deserve to win.  Frustration came from the number of penalties called - not just on us - just how it affected the flow of the game.  Chris Akerman had another solid performance.  He is staying square to the puck and making himself big by only going down at the right time.  He is communicating with the defence earlier and setting the puck for the better as of late.  His confidence is growing and he seems to be settling into the role."

The Panthers and Cougars will be right back at it next Thursday in Esquimalt at the Archie Browning Arena before the Club come backs home to the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre next Friday when they will host the Westshore Wolves.  The Panthers will be looking to do a bit of "Cat-nipping" of their own!