Panthers Bounce Wolves 6-4 to knot series at 1-1

The Peninsula Panthers downed the Westshore Wolves 6-4 on Wednesday evening at the Q-Centre before an announced crowd of 269 people.  And, for the most part, they did not spend much time in their seats and were perched mostly on the edge for the entire 60 minutes.  With the win, the Panthers knotted the Best-of-7 series at one game apiece and set the stage for Game 3 which will take place back at the Panorama Recreation Centre this Friday at 7:30 pm.

Still smarting from an opening round Game 1 4-3 loss on Monday night at home, the Panthers squad had different ideas about the outcome away from home.  But with only 5:08 having been played in the 1st frame, Wolves' Corey Pederson tallied and then just 9 minutes later the Wolves would capitalize once again, this time Connor Krupa hitting paydirt.  The Panthers had several good opportunities throughout the period throwing 18 first-period attempts at Wolves netminder Matt Chester however, he held firm between the pipes.  Stephen Heslop made the start for the Panthers between the pipes, his 2nd in two games.

But the Panthers got onto the scoresheet at the 3:00 mark of the 2nd stanza when Connor Logan slipped one past Chester with help on the play from Rylan Ball and Tate Coughlin.  Both teams once again exchanged several good scoring opportunities however, on the man advantage Wolves Kyle Richter solved Heslop once again at the 16:58 mark.  It looked like the Wolves would carry the two-goal lead into the break but Cody Breitenstein had other ideas and with only 27 seconds left on the clock, he beat Chester once again with the lone assist on the play going to his defensive partner, Spencer Loverock.

The sheet was greased for the final time and both Clubs skated out, the Panthers perhaps the more desparate of the two.  And at the 6:00 minute mark Panthers rookie defenceman Sean Buchanan received a pass from Alex Milligan at the left point and he somehow got a wristshot past a diving Wolves defender.  The puck travelled towards the Wolves net and did not stop until it hit twine behind Chester to tie the game at 3-3.  And Rylan Ball got into the scoring parade just 8 seconds shy of the midway mark in the period when he came out of the corner and threw the puck in front and watched it bounce off a Wolves defenceman.  But the Wolves were not done.  Two Peninsula Panthers forwards were whistles for infractions sending the Wolves on a protracted 5-on-3 and they made no mistake very late in the penalty.  Cory Pederson received a soft pass from Richter and he blasted a shot from the top of the left circle past Heslop.  The Wolves were still on a short one-man advantage and the puck was iced into the Wolves end.  Logan made an agressive forecheck on the puck and his efforts seemed to surprise the Wolves defenceman.  Logan bodied him and then stripped the puck and walked from the corner where he fed Cole Glover in front.  Glover made a move to Chester's left and then roofed a pretty backhand to the top of the net scoring what was easily the prettiest and biggest tally on the evening.  There was 5:22 left in the game when the two Clubs faced off and as the minutes ticked off the two teams played frantic hockey.  And with only 1:15 left in the game, Jackson Skerratt sped down the right side for the Panthers and ripped a shot at the Wolves net, a shot that seemed quite harmless.  It seemed to hit something along the way and fooled a startled Chester.  That was all the Panthers would need.

The game turned a bit ugly with only 3 seconds left.  Panthers Brett Sjerven and Wolves Tyler Smjth became involved in some extra curricular activity which resulted in Sjerven being sent off with a 5-minute major for slashing and a game misconduct.  Smith was whistled for a 5-minute match penalty and a game misconduct and both players will be watching Game # 3 on Friday night from the sidelines.

Panthers Heslop stopped 24 of 28 shots directed his way while Chester managed to kick out 39 of 45 shots.

"We really need to clean our game up," stressed Panthers Head Coach Brian Passmore.  "We had a bit of a game plan and our guys, all of our guys need to buy in.  Cody Allison and Iver Oedegaard will draw back into the lineup on Friday at home and I know that both of these guys are chomping at the bit to get in.  I hope they both play a great game and force me to keep them in.  I liked some of the effort from a few guys but once again, we need everyone involved.  A little adversity does not hurt but now we have to play a hard and disciplined game.  Westshore is a Club that is loaded with skill and experience and we have our hands full.  This is one hell of a series already."

In other VIJHL Best-of-7 series playoff action the Nanaimo Clippers lead the Campbell River Storm 1-0 after winning in Campbell River on Wednesday evening 4-1.  And Comox bounced the Saanich Braves by the same score in Game 1 of their series and lead 1-0.  In the only other series, the Victoria Cougars and Kerry Park Islanders have yet to tangle but they will hit the ice Thursday evening in Archie Browning Arena for Game 1 of that series.

The Panthers are looking forward to Friday evening when they expect a very large local crowd will spill into the Panorama Recreation Centre.  Yes, this has been a great series thus far, stay tuned.