You could tell from the opening faceoff that this wasn’t the same Panther team that we have seen thus far in the playoffs. They looked tentative and didn’t have their usual drive and energy, perhaps they were playing too cautiously, trying to avoid the mistakes that occurred in the previous game.
Newmarket scored the only goal of the first period, but Matt Indovina responded with his 6th of the playoffs about one minute into the second and that was it for the Panthers. The Hurricanes added two more in the second and two in the third, including one PP goal.
Pickering was outshot 38-23 in the game, with Anthony Sciere making 33 saves. The Hurricanes now hold a 2-0 series lead. The Panthers will look to park the memory of this game, regroup and take advantage of home ice in Game 3 of the series in the “Den” this Thursday afternoon, April 9 at 3:30 pm.
