Panthers deserve better fate but go down two games after 3-2 loss to Cougars

March 11, 2020
Esquimalt, British Columbia

Any fan who attended the game Wednesday evening between the visiting Peninsula Panthers and Victoria Cougars were treated to 60 minutes of entertainment.  The only thing that was missing if you are a Panthers' fan was the W at the end of the evening when the final buzzer sounded.  The Panthers lost 3-2 and now go down in the best-of-7 series 2-0.  But they will be back in familiar territory on both Friday and Saturday nights when the series shifts to the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre for Games 3 and 4.

Scoring for the Panthers on the night were Denver Maloney and Tanner Wort but the output was just short of what was needed. The Panthers pushed the pace in the final 20 minutes and had a number of outstanding scoring chances but they could not squeeze in the equalizer.

"Our effort was night and day from Game 1," quipped GM Pete Zubersky.  On the first goal we gave the puck away in our own end and it cost us a goal.  We didn't win puck battles on their 2nd goal and it cost us once again.  And on their 3rd goal we left one of their forwards in front and it was the winner.  But the heart was there tonight, I expect we will give even more on Friday night and will come back on Saturday with the series at 2-1.  We clearly have our backs to the wall right now but the series is a long, long way from being over.  We have been good in our barn and in front of our fans, we will have to bring our best effort of the season on Friday night."

Head Coach Brad Tippett had some thoughts of his own after the game was in the books. 

"I thought we played a pretty solid game. Both teams forced the other into some errors and had stretches where each controlled the play. I thought we got stronger as the game wore on and probably deserved a better fate.
They held serve in their building. It’s up to us to do the same.  We have been great in our building all year and we have to take advantage of that and try to get this to a game six or seven."

The puck will drop both on Friday and Saturday night at the usual 7:30 pm.