Islanders snatch victory from the jaws of defeat to extend best-of-7 series to Game 6

March 19, 2022
North Saanich, British Columbia

In a game that had more ups and downs than a toilet seat, the visiting Kerry Park Islanders beat the Peninsula Panthers 5-4 to extend the series to six games, albeit, it took double-overtime to turn the tide.  And with the win, the Islanders stayed alive and forced Game 6 up in Mill Bay Saturday night at 7:30 pm with the Cats still holding a 3-2 advantage in the best-of-7 series.

It was all Panthers in the early going as they outshot the Islanders 13-3 in the first frame while holding a 2-1 lead.  And it was much the same in the middle stanza as the Cats continued to carry the play with the shot clock at 30-8, but the score was still only a one-goal difference at 3-2.  The Islanders seemed to gain some steam in the final period and outscored the home side 2-1 and after the buzzer sounded to end Regulation Time, nothing had been decided with the two teams deadlocked at 4-4.  

The two squads exchanged several chances in the initial overtime period and still nothing was solved.  But early in the 2nd Overtime, the Islanders took a shot on the Panthers' net that was turned aside.  Islanders forward Brady Estabrook picked up the puck behind the Panthers net and did a quick wrap-around and managed to stuff the disk to the back of the net to set off an on-ice celebration and to extend the series to Saturday night in Mill Bay.

A full house is expected on Saturday up in Mill Bay; a must-win situation for the Islanders who trail in the series 3-2.  A Panthers win will send them shuffling to the sidelines however, another win will force the series to go the distance.  If Game 7 is required, it will take place in the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre Sunday afternoon at 3:30 pm.