Panthers even series with 5-2 win over Braves

Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League semifinals shift to Peninsula for Games 3 and 4

Travis Paterson Mar 8, 2012 3:00 PM

2011-2012 Saanich Braves Junior B Hockey Club — Matt Biagoni and the Saanich Braves suffered a 5-2 loss to the Peninsula Panthers at Pearkes arena in Game 2 of their VIJHL semifinal series on Wednesday. Game 3 is 7:30 p.m. at Panorama

Coach Brad Cook had to wonder where the Saanich BravesB次元官网网址� game plan was against the Peninsula Panthers in Game 2 of the on Wednesday (March 7).

The , four-goal second period to win the game 5-2 and even the best-of-seven series at 1-1.

B次元官网网址淲e played well, put a lot of pressure on the Braves and did a good job of stopping the way they like to play,B次元官网网址� said Panthers coach Rob Armstrong.

Tyler Porteous, Jake Bryan and Joe Densmore each scored on the powerplay for the Panthers. Josh Bloomenthal and David Stephens scored at even strength to make it 5-0.

"Our powerplay had been inconsistent most of the season. It had to be better and it was (on Wednesday)," Armstrong said.

Among the many frustrations for Cook was the BravesB次元官网网址� lack of discipline, having repeatedly warned his squad not to give the Panthers powerplay chances.

B次元官网网址淲e were awful,B次元官网网址� Cook said. B次元官网网址淯nfocused and undisciplined. We didnB次元官网网址檛 do what we talked about for our game plan. We had a chance to go up 2-0 in the series and now weB次元官网网址檙e back even.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚n saying that, we werenB次元官网网址檛 good in the first period but, only being down a goal, youB次元官网网址檒l take that. B次元官网网址淲e had a stretch of eight minutes in the second period where we dominated and had five point-blank scoring chances. It could have easily been 3-3.B次元官网网址�

James Kellington and Sam McMullen scored for the Braves in the third period but the deficit was too large. Adding to the BravesB次元官网网址� woes, Nick Vanstone earned a minor penalty for a hit-to-the-head in the first period, which comes with an automatic 10-minute misconduct. When it happened again, this time in the second period, Vanstone was ejected from the game.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e stupid penalties,B次元官网网址� Cook said.

Brave words: Good news: In both first round losses to the Campbell River Storm the Braves bounced back to win, a habit they were trying to build during the regular season.

Bad news: The flu bug is making its rounds within the BravesB次元官网网址� dressing room. Jack Palmer and Jordan Groenhyde were kept out of the lineup, meaning they were sick enough to forego a playoff game.

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