Panthers rack up four in a row with Remembrance Day 4-3 win over the Predators

Thursday, November 11, 2021
North Saanich, British Columbia

The Peninsula Panthers lost their first three games of the season but seem to have found some traction now 24 games into the season.  The 52-game regular season can be a grind at times and the Panthers will have another test Friday night when they welcome in the visiting Kerry Park Islanders for their 3rd game in three days.  But for now the Club will sit back and enjoy the 6-3 win Wednesday evening in Saanich against the Predators as well as the 4-3 Remembrance Day win back home in the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre earlier this afternoon.

Wednesday night was a time for the line of Logan Speirs and brothers Riley and Payton Braun to shine brightly.  Riley led the point parade garnering an assist on all six of the 'Cats' tallies, while Speirs notched three goals and two assists and Payton scored a pair.  The other marksman for the Panthers was Evan Crawford who unleashed a snapshot from the point and beat Predators goaltender Andrew Palm.  Scoring for the home side was Ashton Underhill with a couple and newly acquired Arjun Raman with one marker.  Palm was tagged with the loss while Panthers starter Ashton Lukan collected the win.

This afternoon a touching video to remember and honor the Veterans was played on the big screen at the North end of the Panorama Recreation Centre and the following moment's silence allowed for a feather to be heard when dropped in the rink.  And then it was time for game action and every single fan came away feeling that they got their money's worth.

The Predators have been fighting as of late to get into the win column and although today they did not hit a 'W' when they spun the wheel, the visitors did everything they could and perhaps earned at least a point in the standings.  But solid goaltending from newly acquired goaltender Brady Kelly was enough to get the win, a number of big saves coming in the 3rd frame as the two teams headed down the home stretch.  

Sean Pandher opened the scoring only 1:47 into the opening stanza however before 20 minutes were in the books the Panthers had popped two of their own.  Logan Speirs scored on the power play four minutes after Pandher and then Payton Braun gave his squad the one-goal margin with only 33 seconds to go before the 1st intermission.  Andrew Brabender made the start between the pipes for the Predators while the Panthers changed it up as well from Wednesday switching from Lukan to Kelly.

It was the Predators turn to win a period 2-1 with Ethan Taylor and Raman each putting a notch in their respective scoring belts while Panthers Denver Maloney replied for the homeside on a pretty pass off the stick of Speirs.

With the score all knotted at 3-3 it was time for Reid Fryer to put on the cape with the big 'S' on the front.  Fryer gathered in a puck just three feet inside the Predators blueline on the left point and wristed a puck towards Brabender and the awaiting cage.  The puck seemed to have eyes and when all was said and done, Fryer had given the 'Cats' a 4-3 lead with under seven minutes remaining after his shot drifted past everyone and into the back of the cage.  His marker would prove to close the books on the scoring for the afternoon, albeit, the two squads exchanged a couple scoring chances late.

Brady picked up his first VIJHL win in his first VIJHL start, while Brabender was collared with the loss.  Fryer and Underhill were selected as the Players of the Game for their respective squads.

The Panthers raced home after the contest and surely were tucking in bed and sleeping before the ink was dry on this article.  After two tough games with the Saanich team, they will now have their bingo card full on Friday night with the Islanders on tap.  The puck is set to drop at the usual 7:30 pm.

Panthers tracks....A two-minute in-house audio visual presentation takes place at 7:20 pm each night after the warm-up is complete and the ice is being cleaned....Panthers play-by-play Will Bryant is excellent in detailing the Panthers Week that was, while photos by Christian Stewart Photography compliment the Bryant's audio on the big screen....Panthers have implemented replay and it was never more evident after a big hit coming from Julien Phillips in the Remembrance Day game...At the stoppage following the big hit on the end wall, the replay was played and a look at both benches saw all heads from players and coaches looking at the hit in slow motion....With 16 out of a possible 22 points in their last 11 games, the Panthers have moved past the Westshore Wolves and into 2nd place in South Division Standings....the Wolves have two games in hand....back on October 1st the Panthers sat in last place in the South Division with 5 points....at that time they trailed the Predators by a whopping 6 points but have turned it up a couple notches since then....