The Peninsula Panthers will be back at the Panorama Recreation Centre where they will host the Campbell River Storm in Game 3 in their Best-of-7 VIJHL series. And when the Panthers skate out on Sunday in the early evening for the 5:30 p.m. start time, they will do so having earned a 2-0 lead in the series on the strength of a 4-2 win on Tuesday night and a 2-1 Double Overtime heart-stopping win on Friday.
Goaltender Chris Akerman back-stopped the Cats to the win on Tuesday night and Goaltender Connor McKillop shone brightly on Friday for the Panthers in picking up the win.
The two teams raced up and down the ice and although both squads had scoring opportunities, the Storm's Aaron De Kok and McKillop turned aside every shot directed their way.
At the 10:03 mark of the 2nd stanza and on the power play, Tanner Wort finally cracked the egg beating De Kok on a nifty move. Matt Sparrow and Riley Braun were awarded helpers on the play. There would be no further scoring in the period.
The Storm came bursting out to start the 3rd frame and carried the play for much of the first 10 minutes, but McKillop was up to the task and held the home squad at bay. The Panthers began to take over some of the play and it looked as though they were going to win the game in regulation. With 12.6 seconds left and the face-off to McKillop's right, centreman Josh Lingard won the draw and the puck was dished out into the neutral zone. The 900 fans in attendance, and every single player and official involved in the game, thought it was over. The puck moved from the neutral zone down the left wall and into the slot where Storm's Mike Dyck deflected it past McKillop just as the buzzer sounded. The four Officials met at centre ice and after a lengthy conversation, awarded Dyck the tieing goal with no time left on the clock.
The 1st 10-minute Overtime proved nothing, and both teams went to the Dressing Room as the ice was greased for the 2nd Overtime period. The two Clubs exchanged quality chances in the early-going and at the 9:32 mark, Panthers' Riley Braun picked up the puck near his own blueline and spotted Tanner Wort in behind the two Storm defencemen. Braun sauced a perfect pass, hitting Wort in stride at the Storm blueline and sending him in all alone on De Kok. De Kok made the save, but Wort managed to shovel the puck to Lingard and he made no mistake silencing the raucious crowd in the process. The entire Panthers' team spilled over the bench and raced towards Lingard, meeting him in the corner to the right of De Kok. And with the Lingard goal, the Panthers earned their 2nd straight road win, and one that was well-deserved.
Head Coach, Brad Tippett was excited and yet calm after the game, knowing that there is a lot of hockey to be played.
"Playoffs bring a full spectrum of emotions. Tonight we got a taste of anticipation, excitement, anxiety, bewilderment, anger, and finally vindication. I loved our focus going in.The atmosphere on the bus was business-like. Guys were quiet, most slept - nothing needed to be said. Everyone was well aware of the task at hand.
We knew they were going to come out flying. We recorded the first 5 shots of the game which I thought was important.
A penalty on us turned the momentum and the play went back and forth - including us killing a second penalty.
Like Tuesday, I thought the 2nd period was our best and our P.P. clicked on a rebound from a play we discussed between periods. They certainly had us on our heals in the 3rd and we weathered the storm. I do not want to discuss the goal they were awarded at the buzzer. What I choose to focus on was our team's ability to compose ourselves and get back to the mission. It would have been easy to whine and let down - we chose to just get back to the mission.
Both teams had great chances in OT and saves by both goaltenders prolonged the game. The winning goal was almost a snapshot of the game in that it took second and third efforts to get the puck across the line. Lingard scored but it took efforts from everyone to earn in that opportunity.
Playoffs games always get tougher as the series progresses. On Sunday, our mission continues."
The Puck will drop on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at the Panorama Recreation Centre, and Game 4 will go on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. Large crowds are expected and the Panthers' organization is asking that fans arrive early.
Here is the schedule for the remaining games:
Game 3
at PENINSULA Sunday, March 3rd at 5:30 pm
Game 4 at PENINSULA Monday, March 4 at 7:30 pm
Game 5 at Campbell River Tuesday, March 5 at 7:30 pm (if necessary)
Game 6 at PENINSULA Friday, March 8 at 7:30 pm (if necessary)
Game 7 at Campbell River Saturday, March 9 at 7:30 pm (if necessary))
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