The Peninsula Panthers are looking to get back on the winning track after dropping two out of three games last week.
Respective losses of 5-3 and 5-2 against the Westshore Wolves and the Victoria Cougars sandwiched a 5-3 home victory against the Campbell River Storm as the Panthers hit the one-third mark of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) with a 12-3 record, good enough for first place in the league with 24 points.
But the Victoria Cougars are knocking at the door with 22 points and three games in hand. The Cougars might also slow become the PanthersB次元官网网址� Angstgegner (feared opponent) as they are the only team in the league to have beaten the Panthers twice this season, their latest victory coming Sunday night at Archie Browning Arena, where the Cats fell victims to stellar goaltending.
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B次元官网网址淥n Sunday against the Cougars I thought we had the start we wanted,B次元官网网址� said Brad Tippett, head coach. B次元官网网址淲e controlled the play, created turnovers and scored first. We made a soft clear and it came right back and 10 seconds later itB次元官网网址檚 1-1.B次元官网网址�
Down 4-2 after two periods following some penalty troubles and poor positioning, the Panthers roared into the third period, only to concede the fifth and final Victoria goal. B次元官网网址淲e dominated the [third] period but one gamble in neutral zone cost us the [fifth] goal,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he bottom line is that they capitalized on their chances; it would be unfair to say that we didnB次元官网网址檛. Their goaltender was the difference in the game. It could have easily been a 7-6 game.B次元官网网址�
Looking at the week as the whole, Tippett gave his team a D- following WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 game against Westshore. The Panthers recovered with a C performance against Campbell River before upping their game with a B overall against Victoria and an A during the third period.
B次元官网网址淢aybe it was the full moon but we were just out of sync this week from Wednesday on,B次元官网网址� said Tibbett. B次元官网网址淭he latter part of the 2nd period on Sunday afternoon I could feel the emotion and attitude on the bench change. I said to [assistant coach] Lenny Dawes with about 5 minutes to go, B次元官网网址榃eB次元官网网址檙e back.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
The Panthers will look to build on this momentum when they host the visiting Saanich Braves at the Panorama Recreation Centre, with the puck dropping at 7:30 p.m.
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