The Panthers enjoyed their return to Niagara Falls for the Governor’s Showcase, leaving with another two points on Friday night. After the Canucks opened the scoring with a second-period power play goal, Evan Elliott answered quickly for Pickering, banging in his second of the season in a goalmouth scramble to tie the game 1–1.
The Panthers pulled away in the third period. Jonathan Cirone scored on the power play to give Pickering the lead, and less than a minute later Charlie Key buried the clincher to seal a 3–1 victory.
Daniel Giusti was steady in net, turning aside 34 of 35 shots to record his third win of the season. With the result, the Panthers improved to four wins in their first six games.
