FRIDAY DEC 15 – WELLINGTON 4 PICKERING 3 (OT)
The 10th place Panthers headed east to take on the Wellington Dukes who currently hold on to second place in the Eastern Conference. It was oh so close tonight as the Panthers nearly came home with an upset victory. Pickering led 3-0 in the first period due to its special teams play as Ethan Osborne and Joey Zhang each contributed power play goals and Jamie Darlison added a short-handed goal. It remained 3-0 until early in the third when the Dukes started a comeback with two goals and then got the tying goal with a minute and a half remaining in regulation time. Dukes got the winner in the first OT, but the Panthers came away with what might prove to be an important single point.
Glen McInnes made 24 saves as Pickering was again missing three key players – Ben Pickell (World Jr A Challenge). Hunter Svicki (injury) and Kailin Chen (IIHF U20 Championships – China).
