The Burlington Cougars provided the opposition in the Panthers’ opening game. Joe Cadorin opened the scoring late in the first period on a power play, assisted by Josh Brady and Evan Elliott. Carter Fogarty restored Pickering’s lead with another power play goal in the second, set up by Owen Key. Burlington tied the game in the third, but Cadorin delivered the overtime winner, tipping in a Noah Smith point shot to give the Panthers a 3–2 victory. Daniel Giusti was solid in goal, stopping 26 of 28 shots.
Cadorin stayed hot in the second game against the King Rebellion, scoring his fifth goal in as many games to tie things 1–1 in the first period. That was as close as the Panthers would get, as the Rebellion struck for four goals in the second and two more in the third to hand Pickering a 7–1 loss. The Panthers were outshot 57–21, with Anthony Sciere taking the loss in net.
