Smith leads Panthers to 5-4 win

"We were down 4-3 at one point and had to scratch out a win.  In the end we came out on the right side of the scoreboard and we will happily take the two points."  And with those two statements Head Coach and General Manager of the Peninsula Panthers quietly and clearly summed up a 5-4 win over the Kerry Park Islanders in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.

The Islanders invaded the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre to face a Panthers lineup still missing five key players and although there were nails being bitten at times, the Club prevailed in the end when at 14:23 of the 3rd frame Sean Buchanan drifted in a shot at the Islanders net that Kerry Park goaltender Leighton Williams just might have wanted back.  And the tally would prove to be the winner as the Panthers held on for the final minutes to gain two important points in the Southern Division standings.

Super sniper Zack Smith opened the scoring on the power play with just one tick under six minutes having been played with helpers going to Connor Logan and Tate Coughlin.  The goal set off the annual "Toys for Tots Teddy Bear Toss" and the ice was quickly littered with bears that will find themselves under Christmas trees of less fortunate children on the Saanich Peninsula.  It took only four minutes of action after the bears had been removed for the Islanders to knot the game at one when Alex Milligan beat Panthers starter Joey Karrer.  But at the 12:56 mark it was Smith again with linemates Coughlin and Logan getting assists on the goal. 

After the sheet was greased and the two teams came out for the second stanza Braedan Cross wasted no time getting the affair back on even terms scoring on the power play with only 3:30 having been played.  But the lead would go back to the Panthers once again when Coughlin beat Williams at 6:52, once again a power play goal.  The game settled down but the Islanders clearly had the edge in the middle period and when Cross scored at 13:44 and Cody Short tallied only 12 seconds later the Islanders would have their first lead of the night.  But hulking utility man Grayson Vickers managed to light the lamp with only 2:21 remaining in the period and the two teams went to the room tied at 4-4.

This would set the stage for Buchanan's winner, a big goal on the season as it allows the Panthers to open up a bit of breathing room in the standings in the Division. 

"We did not play a good game and our puck management was poor in a contest that went back and forth," explained Passmore.  We had the lead at three different times in the game and we allowed them to come back on us.  The third period was a better effort and result.  We simply need to have more urgency in our game and play more consistant hockey."

The Managing General thought several of his troops had a nice evening.  "Cody Breitenstein played a great game for us on defence and Zack Smith had some good jump and scored two nice goals. 

Karrer took the win blocking 24 of 28 shots directed his way while Williams faced the exact same shot total however stopped one less shot.  He was nailed for the loss.  Smith, Coughlin and Cross were selected as the three stars.

"I like the fact that we just signed Des Bast and he was able to jump into the lineup after having not played a game in some time.  We are all going to be better, hopefully when we arrive at the Bear Mountain next Wednesday evening."

Bast was a recent addition to the Panthers after having played Junior A hockey in Saskatchewan and Manitoba this season.  He is known for his skating ability and gritty style of play and his addition is expected to pay huge dividends for the remainder of the season and into the playoffs.

The Panthers will take on the Wolves next Wednesday evening and will be on the road once again next Friday when they travel to Saanich to take on a Braves team that is playing well as of late.  They will not be back at home until after Christmas when the host the same Braves team on Friday, December 27th.