The first period looked a lot like play in the previous game, where the first goal might win the game. Stouffville got the first at the 14-minute mark on a PP. However, Pickering responded with one of their own as Angelo Protopapas tied it up with just 1.5 seconds remaining in the first period. That goal seemed to give the Panthers momentum going into the second as they got into their rhythm. Protopapas scored his second of the game five minutes into the second to put Pickering ahead 2-1. As the Panthers have done several times in the playoffs, they seem to relish playing with the lead and completely shut down the Spirit for the remainder of the game.
Stouffville came close a few times in the third, including hitting the post, but Pickering’s defensive play, shot blocking and the lights-out goaltending of Anthony Sciere stymied the Spirit again and again. Marco Costante scored the insurance goal for Pickering into an empty net with seven seconds remaining to ice the victory.
Anthony Sciere made 29 saves for his 7th playoff win and now holds a 1.13 GAA and 0.964 SV%. The Panthers have limited Stouffville to just three goals in four games, including only one even strength goal. The two teams will be back in action in Stouffville for Game 5 at 2:30 pm Sunday, March 29th.
