Panthers come up short in effort to sweep weekend pair of games

September 24, 2021
North Saanich, British Columbia

The Peninsula Panthers Organization must have had mixed feelings after splitting a pair of games over the past couple of days. On Thursday evening, the Club trounced the Nanaimo Buccaneers in a convincing 14-1 road win but momentum is most often based on the next game's goaltending. And Kerry Park Islanders Dryden Demelo had all the answers Friday evening in the confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre stonewalling the 'Cats' time and time again in leading his squad to a 6-4 win.

On Thursday night a number of Panthers were able to fatten their scoring stats as the Buccaneers seemed to have no answer for the onslaught. Brothers Riley and Payton Braun each added three notches to their goal-scoring belts while Davey Moody and defenceman Hunter Jensen were able to buldge the twine on a couple of occasions. Single markers came off the sticks of Tanner Banks, Owen Cox, Grant Gilbertson and Sterling Lyon for the visitors. With point night front and centre, Riley Braun took the lead in the VIJHL scoring race while brother Payton and Speirs were two and three in the League rankings. Rookie netminder Rogan Bacon turned aside 9 of 10 shots sent his way and was awarded his first win at the Junior level. As the Iron Lung departed the parking lot of the Nanaimo Ice Centre, an uneducated observer would have easily been able to determine that the Club had had a big night. That feeling rapidly dissipated less than 24 hours later at the hands of the Islanders.

The 'Cats' seemed in control for most of the evening and midway through the 2nd frame held a well-deserved 4-1 lead on the scoreboard on goals from defenceman Matt Seale, Riley Braun, Banks and Speirs. Demelo had kept the score respectable to this point giving his squad an opportunity to get back into the battle and that they did. Colten Thompson scored on a wrist shot from the top of the circles to beat Panthers starter Connor Svienson joining mate Jack Strom who had tallied for the visitors in the first period on a rebound from in close.  And it was Thompson once again who put the disk behind the Panthers starter when at the 11:27 mark, he banged in another rebound.

The final saw the Islanders put three more behind Svienson, all three coming off defenders miscues.  Marko Tokic took a puck off the shin pads on a puck that did not get through from the point and then raced 150 feet down the ice and in all alone before depositing the tying marker with just seven minutes remaining.  And Thompson joined the party once again with his 3rd marker of the evening when at the 16:35 mark, he put the visitors ahead for good.  Just 39 seconds later, Logan Walker put the nail in the Panthers coffin when he beat Svienson to give the Islanders an insurmountable 6-4 lead and that is how the game ended when the final buzzer sounded.

Svienson blocked 20 of 26 shots sent flying in his direction and was collared for the loss while Demelo blocked 41 of 45 Panthers attempts in picking up his Club's selection as Player of the Game in a winning effort.  Seventeen-year-old Mason McNiell was physical and raced up and down the ice all night and he was awarded the Player of the Game for his side.

"It was a frustrating loss in a game that I thought we played hard, showed some real effort and honestly deserved a better fate," mused General Manager Pete Zubersky.  "Our defence did not get the puck in deep in the offensive end when the game was on the line and did not keep it simple in our own end when the game was on the line.  Once we learn that there are times in the game when you do not have to make a great play but simply have to get the puck deep and have to get the puck out our goals against will drop dramatically.  The best play in hockey a lot of the times is a simple chip off the wall and out.  Those turnovers were costly yet again.  I hate to give up a breakaway even once every three or four games.  We gave up five on the night and a couple of those ended up in the back of our net.  It's tough to point to the goaltender in those situations, he does not give up a breakaway.  Demelo was sharp and outplayed our guy between the pipes.  Connor will need to get into that same zone in order for our Club to put up the wins that we deserve.  He is a really good goaltender who truly wants to find success and I am sure it will come out soon.

The Panthers will welcome in the Buccaneers next Friday evening at 7:30 pm and the following evening will travel up to Mill Bay to try and even the season series at one apiece when they face-off against the same Islanders group.