Storm wins in Triple OT to extend series to Friday night.

The best-of-7 series is turning out to be a show-stopper with each game that passes by.  And Game 5 on Tuesday night in Campbell was certainly no exception.  The Peninsula Panthers and the Campbell River Storm locked horns with the Panthers having won three of the four games played going into the evening and with a view on ending the series.  It was not to be.

The Panthers scored twice during the 60 minutes of regulation, both markers coming off the stick of Tanner Wort and helpers on both tallies coming from linemate Riley Braun.  And for the Panthers Pearce messer and Tyler Chyzowski would each put a shot past Panthers starter Connor McKillop but that would be all the scoring over three periods of play.

The two Clubs exchanged fantastic chances over the first two overtime frames.  The Panthers enjoyed their best opportunites late in the 2nd overtime and while on the power play.  Braun hit the post and was robbed by Storm goaltender Aaron de Kok on another and then de Kok turned aside a shot from 12 feet out by Matt Sparrow to force triple overtime.

And it was over quickly when the two rivals showed up for the 6th period of hockey.  The Storm went on the power play and only seconds later and at the 1:16 mark Reid Wheeldon scored the winner to send the fans and the Storm Club home happy.

"We knew CR would come out desperate and force the issue," quipped Panthers Bench Boss Brad Tippett.  "I thought we withstood it for the most part - being down 1-0 after the 1st period was fine.  We seemed to get a little more offence in the second. We drew a penalty and our Power Play executed getting us even - only to give momentum back a few seconds later.  We got better in the 3rd with the final 10 minutes filled with chances and great saves. They started the first OT period like the game started by hemming us in.  McKillop made some great saves and we cleared loose pucks. We had 5 or 6 point blank chances in the second OT.  I thought if that second OT was a couple minutes longer we might have pulled it out."
 
Tippett added some comments as he looked ahead as Game 6 in the series now heads back South onto the Saanich Peninsula at the confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre.  "Now it’s up to us to take advantage of home ice on Friday.  We escaped with only the normal bumps and bruises that come with intense playoff games. Both teams get a chance to rest after 3 in 3 nights and 4 in 5 nights. The last two weeks have seen this group get very tight. We are playing together and for each other.  I expect we will continue doing what ever it takes to get the mission accomplished on Friday."

The game is set to go at 7:30 pm and fans are asked to come several minutes earlier than usual as there is keen interest in the contest and a large crowd is expected Friday.