Playoff picture coming into focus after Panthers split pair of weekend games

February 6, 2022
Saanich, British Columbia

With the 1st round of the best-of-seven playoffs looming straight ahead, the Peninsula Panthers seemed to get some significant resolution in terms of their potential opponent after splitting a pair of weekend games. On Friday night, the Club lost what was perhaps one of the most hotly-contested affairs of the season when they came out on the short end of a 4-3 score against the visiting Victoria Cougars after leading by a goal with less than ten minutes remaining in the game. But that heart-breaker did not seem to have any effect on the Club going into their road game against the Saanich Predators Sunday afternoon. The Cats put down the pedal for a full 60 minutes and were rewarded with a much deserved and convincing 8-2 win. Those two wins, coupled with the Westshore Wolves losses Saturday night in Kerry Park against the Islanders and Sunday afternoon at the Archie Browning, has all but sealed the 1st round matchups, albeit, home-ice advantage is still up for grabs.

The Panthers held a 3-2 lead with under 9 minutes to go in the contest on Friday on markers by Denver Maloney, Matthew Seale and Payton Braun but the Cougars beat Panthers' starter Ashton Lukan on a play that left many in the Panorama Recreation Centre showing some visible displeasure arguing that the puck had not crossed the line. But the goal stood and with just two minutes remaining, the Cougars beat Lukan once again with the winner which capped off a 4-3 comeback win for the visitors.

On Sunday, there was never any doubt as the Panthers came out strong and played a full sixty minutes of hockey. Payton Braun paced the Club with three markers and broke the Panthers All-Time mark for Rookie scorers previously held by now Toronto Maple Leafs Assistant Coach Spencer Carbery. Carbery had set the mark back in the 1999/2000 season but Braun will have five more games to improve on his totals.

Sterling Lyon, who is perhaps the fastest player in the VIJHL and one who has been on the shelf with an injury for most of the season, is just now starting to come into his own after returning to the lineup a month ago added a couple markers of his own. Ryan Grambart, Evan Crawford and Tristan Rosenblood added singles while goaltender Brady Kelly picked up the win between the pipes blocking 16 of 18 shots sent in his direction. Braun and Predators' Sean Pandher picked up the Player of the Game for their respective Clubs.

The Panthers would need a lot of help if they have any hopes of catching the Victoria Cougars for 1st place. With five games remaining, the Cats trail the Cougars by four points and would need more than a little help if they were to leapfrog their arch enemies.  But they are ten points up on the Wolves who have 7 games remaining and are a pretty safe bet to hold serve in the battle for 2nd place in the VIJHL South.  Unless an earthquake hits the VIJHL it seems quite clear that the Victoria Cougars will face off against the Kerry Park Islanders and the Peninsula Panthers will go head-to-head against the Westshore Wolves.

The Panthers will welcome in the Wolves on Friday night to the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre for a 7:30 pm date.  And a Panthers win will lock up home ice and give them two weeks to get ready for the second season and the one that matters most.