All 'Brawn' & Brains on Sunday! Panthers knock off Cougars 2-1 in OT on a pair of Braun markers

December 8, 2019
Esquimalt, B.C.

The Peninsula Panthers bested the Victoria Cougars in the battle of the Cats off a Riley Braun goal 2:57 into overtime on a cloudy but warm Sunday afternoon at the Archie Browning Arena in Esquimalt.  Davis Frank had opened the scoring only 17 seconds into the middle frame, but Braun made up for that one, knotting the game at 1-1 at the 1:31 point in the final frame.  Brilliant goaltending performances by Panthers' Connor McKillop and Cougars' Jonah Chambers played a key role in shutting down the two best offensive Clubs in the VIJHL and after 60 minutes, nothing was decided.  But late in the 3rd period Cougars' Jude Wessel was sent to the showers for a high hit on Panthers' Alex Benger and the result was the Panthers would go to the power play for five minutes.  It set the stage for the Braun winner on the power play.  Last shot win!

The ice was greased just before 1:30 pm and then the two squads hit the ice in a highly anticipated affair.  The game did not disappoint.  Frank's tally came off a turn-over behind the Panthers' net and Braun's tying goal early in the 3rd, came just after a Cougars player had come out of the box and was just moving into his defensive end.  Although it was not officially a power play marker, for all intents and purposes it was still with a man-advantage.  The Panthers had tick-tack-toed the puck for a protracted period of time and finally Skyler Diamond-Burchuk and VIJHL leading scorer Tanner Wort worked to get the puck to Braun who was stationed to the right of Chambers.  Braun roofed the puck to the top of the cage, albeit, there was little room left by the Cougars' stopper.  There would be no more scoring in regulation.

The Panthers had 1:27 of power play time at the end of the regulation time however, were unable to capitalize and the contest went into overtime.  But with more ice in the overtime with the power play being a 4-on-3 Diamond-Burchuk and Wort worked the puck to Braun, who was set up in his office to the right of Chambers, and he one-timed the puck leaving no chance for the netminder.  The goal signalled the Panthers' bench to spill onto the ice and the visitors celebrated with Braun and the power play unit.

Head Coach Brad Tippett offered up some comments following the game after he had a chance to speak with his troops.  "It’s no secret that we are not on their Christmas card list and they are not on ours. It was a hard-fought playoff style game. Both teams' goaltending was good. Tonight was our turn to win the special teams battle.  We made some adjustments on the penalty killing and kept the power play simple. Both worked out.  We deserved the two points for the effort in that building."

McKillop blocked 28 of 29 shots while Chambers faced exactly the same amount of shots but managed to stop one less than McKillop.  It was the difference in the game.  Braun captured the Player of the Game for the Panthers, while Frank picked up the award for his Club.

The Panthers head to the Q-Centre on Wednesday evening to face the Wolves and will then be back at home on Friday when they welcome in the Wolves for the back end of the home-and-home mini series.  The puck drops at 7:30 pm Friday.