This one was billed as a potential playoff preview, but the Panthers made a strong statement, erupting for five goals in the second period en route to a convincing 7-2 victory over the Huskies.
Charlie Key opened the scoring just three minutes into the game, breaking in down the left side and roofing a backhander for the lone goal of the first period. Pickering extended the lead early in the second when Evan Elliott finished off a two-on-one rush with Peter Smith, converting Smith’s pass for his 11th of the season to make it 2-0.
The Panthers then took control. Marco Costante fired a shot through traffic, and Gabe Ciarallo struck just nine seconds later to stretch the lead to 4-0. Ty Robar (8th) added a power-play goal from the slot before Haliburton answered with a power-play marker late in the period. However, Peter Smith restored the five-goal cushion just before intermission, blasting a shot from the blue line to make it 6-1 after 40 minutes.
The third period featured less urgency, but Pickering added one more on the power play when Smith broke in alone after receiving a long stretch pass from Anthony Sciere, roofing his 18th of the season. Haliburton scored a shorthanded goal later to round out the 7-2 final.
Sciere was solid in goal, stopping 34 shots to earn his 20th victory of the season. He also picked up his first OJHL assist on Smith’s third-period goal. Peter Smith finished with two goals and an assist, while Ty Robar recorded a goal and two assists in the win.
With the victory, Pickering strengthened its hold on third place in the East Conference, now five points ahead of Haliburton and two ahead of Newmarket, while still holding a game in hand.
