Panthers #5 Stefan Grunert moves Cougars #14 Jackson Egan from the high slot as the puck comes in from the point. (Photo by Gordon Lee Photography)
The Peninsula Panthers ventured into the Archie Browning Arena Sunday afternoon but left empty after being bounced by the Victoria Cougars 5-2.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Esquimalt, British Columbia
The Peninsula Panthers walked into the Archie Browning Arena Sunday afternoon looking to pull out a win and of course, the all important two points from the Victoria Cougars. But a great opening five minutes and a stong final period was not enough to take care of the 35 minutes in between and the result was a 5-2 loss.
Panthers' speedy centreman Logan Speirs started the matinee off on the right foot when he beat Cougars' goaltender Jonah Chambers at the 2:29 mark of the opening stanza with help from mate Stefan Grunert, but the lead would not last long. Trey Anderson replied four minutes later to knot the game at 1-1 and then late in the period, Evan Easton gave the Cougars the lead for the first time when he pulled the puck around Panthers' starter Connor McKillop and gently tucked it to the back of the net. The Panthers would not hold a lead the rest of the way.
At the 4:29 mark of the middle stanza, the reliable Josh Lingard put the Panthers on even terms by beating Chambers on the short side; Jonah Ragsdale was awarded a helper on the play. Easton gave the Cougars a 3-2 lead two minutes later and then at the 13:56 mark and on the power play, skilled defenceman Harkirat Gill added a marker of his own. Anderson added his 2nd marker of the game to put the Cougars up 5-2 early in the 3rd period and the lead was just too big a mountain to climb for the visiting "Cats" from the Peninsula.
Connor McKillop stopped 27 of 32 shots in taking home the loss while Chambers was good on 25 of 27 shots in notching the win. Chambers picked up the game star for the Cougars while Speirs picked up the award for his side.
The Panthers still hold top spot in the VIJHL with a 13-3 win/loss record however, the Cougars sit only two points back with three games in hand. The Club will look to get back into the win column this Friday night back at home when they welcome in the visiting Saanich Braves with the puck set to drop at 7:30 pm. A large crowd is expected.
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