It wasn’t always pretty, but the Panthers broke the game open with three unanswered goals in the third period to pull away from the Cougars. Cobourg jumped out to a 2–0 lead early, scoring once on the power play and again shorthanded. Pickering responded later in the period, first with Peter Smith’s 11th of the season and then a power-play marker from Ty Robar in the final minute to tie the game 2–2.
The teams continued to trade chances in the second period. Matt Indovina scored his 15th of the year to give Pickering its first lead, and although Cobourg tied it shortly afterward, Smith buried his 12th to send the Panthers into the intermission up 4–3.
Pickering took over in the third. Goals by Tyler Bruce, Indovina (his second of the night and 16th of the season), and Angelo Protopapas pushed the lead to 7–3 as tempers flared. The final frame featured several fights and 86 total penalty minutes.
Anthony Sciere was strong in goal, stopping 28 shots and shutting the door completely over the final 32 minutes of play as the Panthers secured the win.
