Panthers knock off visiting Buccaneers 5-2 Friday night

Friday, September 20,2019
North Saanich, British Columbia

The Peninsula Panthers are certainly fond of home cooking.  And for that matter, they have not minded the cooking on the road as well.   After a convincing 5-2 win over the visiting Nanaimo Buccaneers on a cloudy but warm Friday evening at the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre, the Club sits alone atop the VIJHL with an unblemished 5-0 record.  They will look to extend their winning streak on Sunday afternoon in Saanich against the Braves before returning home next Friday evening when they host the visiting Victoria Cougars.

Both teams traded chances in the first 20 minutes in a very evenly played period of play with both Connor McKillop in goal for the Panthers and Austin Dendl for the Buccaneers putting on a performance that was nothing less than outstanding.

The Panthers owned the 2nd frame but could not beat Dendl after he made several unbelieveable stops.  But Josh Lingard finally figured out the visiting stopper.  Tanner Wort gathered in the puck to the right of Dendl and hit defenceman Skyler Diamond-Burchuk who was pinching in from the point.  Dendl was up to the task on Diamond-Burchuk, but Lingard gathered in the rebound and made no mistake to put his Club on the scoreboard at the 13:54 mark.  And just a little over a minute later and after some unrelenting pressure from the "Cats", Thomas Spink gathered in the puck to the left of Dendl on the half-wall and moved it to Alex Benger sitting out at the right point.  Benger, who is known for having the biggest clapper in the League, sent a huge slapshot that ripped towards Dendl and beat him on the short side.  And at the 18:47 mark of the period, Lingard would strike again to give the Panthers a commanding 3-0 lead after 40 minutes had been written.  Right winger Riley Braun sent a perfect pass to Lingard, who was stationed in the slot and once again he made no mistake, scoring his 2nd marker of the contest.

The two clubs exchanged 3rd period goals, Mackenzie Benn-Wipp on assists from Diamond-Burchuk and Sparrow and then Pelletier from Sparrow and Benn-Wipp.  Buccaneers' 3rd period marksmen were Connor Stephenson and Dylan Tonks.  Tonks scored with only six seconds left in the contest to make the score a bit tighter, but had no bearing on the outcome.

Coach Tippett commented in the tunnel near the dressing room after the game.  "Our timing was just a bit off and we got off to a sluggish start. But in the 2nd, we got back to playing a simple game and that started with the forecheck game and as we forced more turnovers, the play began tilting our way.
 
Even though we gave up a goal a few minutes into the 3rd, I thought we played smarter with managing the puck.  It is important to learn how to win and it’s equally as important to learn how not to lose. Tonight we got better and made safer plays when the game got to 4-1.  Again, a group effort and no passengers tonight. Tonight will help us get ready for what is sure to be a test at Pearkes on Sunday."

The game next Friday with the Cats from the other side of town kicks off at 7:30 pm.