Panthers sharpen claws and take Game 1 by a 2-0 count in Comox against the Glacier Kings Tuesday night

It was what the Peninsula Panthers organization was waiting for all season long and it could not have come at a better time.  The Club had been looking to get off the bus on a road game and play a solid 60 minutes and up until Tuesday evening in Comox against the Comox Valley Glacier Kings, it was an elusive feat to be sure.  But Tuesday ended all of that as the Club played perhaps its most solid 60 minutes right from the goal crease on out.  And in the end they were rewarded with a 2-0 Game 1 win and a 1-0 lead in the Best-of-7 series.

Stephen Heslop was not tested early and settled in quite nicely between the pipes for the Panthers.  He was trying to outplay Michael Hails who made the start for the Glacier Kings and was fresh off his selection as the VIJHL's best goaltender.  Heslop had seen his counterpart in Round 1 for the Westshore Wolves - Matt Chester - stand on his head but on this night the 18-year-old would outduel Hails.

Alex Milligan, a 20-year-old who was brought into the Panthers den to score goals in the playoffs, did just that when he opened the scoring at the 8:15 mark of the 1st frame on helpers from Connor Logan and Sean Buchanan.  It was a powerplay tally and would prove in the end to be all that the Club would need.  The Panthers dominated the 1st frame outshooting the Glacier Kings by a 12-5 count but Hails held firm and the two teams went to the dressing room after 20 minutes were in the books with the Panthers holding onto the 1-0 lead.

There was no scoring in the 2nd frame but the story of the period was a parade of Panthers to the box, four in total.  The Glacier Kings held a 13-9 shots advantage in the period on the strength of their powerplay and at one point looked to have Heslop beat.  But the youngster made his best save of the night stacking the pads in acrobatic fashion to keep the Glacier Kings off the scoreboard.

In the 3rd the Panthers held the Glacier Kings to 6 shots and were put on the powerplay with only 2:33 remaining in the game.  And it did not take long for 17-year-old Sean Buchanan to put the dagger deep into the heart of the home squad.  Only 7 seconds had expired on the powerplay when the big and rugged defenceman hit paydirt and the insurance marker, this time on helpers from former Glacier Kings Rylan Ball and gritty forward Tylor Branzsen.

Heslop collected the 2nd star for stopping all 24 shots directed his way while Hails was named the contest's 3rd star blocking 28 of 30 attempts on him.  Buchanan, who picked up a goal and an assist in the win, was named the 1st star on the evening.

"Every single guy played a great road playoff game," said Panthers' Coach Brian Passmore.  "I have been waiting for a team effort like that all season long and I loved that Stephen outplayed Hails on the night.  We needed a great game from all 20 guys and we got it.  This is going to be a tough series.  We have to continue to be physical but also stay away from stupid penalties.  It was a gritty performance, it really was.  I knew we were excited to play when I saw our kids at practice last night but Friday is another big game and we need to come back and play just as physical if not more.  We are big and we have to continue to play that well.  This is a 7-game series, we have a long way to go but we fired the first bullet tonight."

The Panthers are back to the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre on  Friday night with the puck set to drop at 7:30 pm.