Uneven start spells disaster as Cats drop Game 5 in Saanich

Wednesday, March 8, 2023
George Pearkes Arena
Saanich, British Columbia

All eyes will be looking to Friday evening at 7:30 pm when the Peninsula Panthers will face the visiting Saanich Predators in Game 6 of the two Clubs best-of-7 series.  The Panthers will face elimination for the first time in two years after winning the VIJHL Championship last season.  All three series last year were won by the Panthers in six games and they never were on the brink as they will be on Friday night in the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre.

The Predators struck quickly in the game and before the horn sounded to end the 1st frame, they had taken a 4-0 lead.  The Panthers played hard throughout the final 40 minutes but had to open up their game and allowed several more scoring chances which resulted in Predators markers.  The Cats managed to tally three of their own but it was too little and too late.

"I thought our guys were playing tight for the 1st period and it cost us the game," explained Panthers GM Pete Zubersky.  "Our guys were handling the puck like it was a bomb and we were just getting rid of it uncharacteristically rather than making plays.  That is now out of our system and we will be ready when the puck drops on Friday.  We think the series is a long ways from being over and we would love to be playing in Game 7 Sunday night in Saanich.  But first we need to take care of business on Friday night in our barn.  I know our fans will be out in support, we certainly need that right now."

Jack Westhaver paced the Predators attack with a pair of markers while singles came off the sticks of Taylor Webb, Colten Thompson, Sean Pander, Marko Tokic and Michael Hoekstra.  Replying for the Cats was Ryan Grambart, Tanner Banks and Luka Jansen van Rensburg.  Dryden Demelo went the distance between the pipes for the Preds while the Kelly twins Mason and Brady split the crease time for the Panthers.

The Panthers now trail 3-2 in the series but look to claw their way back into the affair Friday night.  If a Game 7 is required it will go in Saanich on Sunday with a 6:00 pm start.  Fans are reminded to adjust their clocks Sunday for daylight savings time.