PICKERING, ON – The Panthers picked up five of a possible six points during a busy three-game weekend at the Den, earning wins over Buffalo and Niagara Falls and a shootout point against Cobourg.
Friday night against the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, Pickering scored in each of the first two periods on goals by Evan Elliott (Toms, Campbell) and a power-play marker from Ethan Toms (Ferroni, Ganz) to take a 2-0 lead into the second intermission.
Buffalo got one back in the third, but that was as close as they would come. Pickering’s penalty kill and goaltending were the difference, as the Panthers successfully killed all seven Buffalo power plays and Daniel Giusti stopped 25 of 26 shots in the 2-1 victory.
Saturday night, the Panthers faced a strong Cobourg squad. The Cougars jumped out to an early lead with a power-play goal at 1:27, but Pickering roared back with three first-period goals from Ronan Campbell, Blake Wright and Jeremiah D’Ornellas.
Cobourg scored twice in the second to even the game before Emanuel Ganz gave Pickering the lead again with a shorthanded goal late in the period.
The Cougars tied the game early in the third, and it remained 4-4 through regulation and overtime. Pickering lost in the shootout but earned an important single point. The Panthers outshot Cobourg 41-31 through regulation and overtime, while Jacob Gibbons made 27 saves.
The Niagara Falls Canucks visited the Den on Sunday night for Pickering’s third game in as many nights. It was a close, hard-fought contest with excellent goaltending at both ends.
Ethan Toms picked the top corner on a Panthers power play to put Pickering ahead 1-0 in the second, but the Canucks tied it shortly after.
Gage Brandon scored what proved to be the game-winner in the third, firing a quick, low shot into the far corner for his first OJHL goal. Tyler Bruce added an empty-net insurance goal in the final minute to seal the 3-1 victory.
Pickering was outshot 35-28, but Gibbons was outstanding in net, making 34 saves and a number of highlight-reel stops.
The Panthers meet the Cougars again at the Den this Friday night, October 2, at 7:30 p.m.
