Friday, October 3rd, 2008 PANTHER PP MISTAKES LEADS TO LOSS Two 3rd Period SH Goals Equal 4-1 Loss... PICKERING, ON: It was a close and competitive contest at 2-1 in the 3rd when Pickering had just earned a powerplay advantage. All signs pointed to the game-tying-goal coming, and the Panthers were pressing Buffalo for several miutes. But a pair of mistakes on the PP turned into a pair of shorthanded goals from the Jr. Sabres, as Pickerinf fell 4-1 on home ice. The game began with a good chunk of up and down action, and scoring chances at both ends. Panther netminder Chris Seiler was forced to make the games first big save with the score still at 0-0. Sabres leading scorer Matt Bessing walked out from the corner and fired a hard shot bound for the top corner that Seiler plucked out of the air. Minutes later the Sabres would open the scorer, as Ryan Geary's effort from the top of the circle found the back of the net. Make it 1-0 Buffalo after 20-minutes. Early In the 2nd period, on a Sabres PP Greg Riggs was hooked off the puck in the nuetral zone. As the play continued into the Sabre end, Buffalo defencemen Ryan Stouffer played the puck behind the net, was lined up by Riggs, and received a huge hit from the Panther forward into the end boards. Unfortunately for Pickering they couldn't build on the momentum, or turnover from the big hit. The Sabres gained control in the Panther end, and scored on a cross-ice one-timer (Nicholas Panepinto) to make it 2-0. The Panthers began to pepper BUffalo goalie Derek Mahoney with shots and traffic, but the Sabre netminder stood his ground, making several key saves including a lunging cross-crease glove save on Panther forward Andrew Fairney. Late in the 2nd, the Panthers finally solved Mahoney, but the goal call didn't come. Jeff Broekema broke in on a partial break, made a quick move and slid the puck under Mahoney and across the goal line. Mahoney quick swiped at the puck in the net and pushed it under his pad. As the whistle went he slid out into the crease, and the goal wasn't seen by the officials. Panther players, and fans behind the net protested the call to no avail. Make it 2-0 Buffalo after 40-minutes. In the 3rd, the Panther veteran Richard Duncan got the Panthers on the board, and back into the hockey game. Duncan flew in over the blueline, raced past a Sabre defender and fired the puck past Mahoney. There was no question with this one. It was Duncan's 2nd of the year, and it made the score 2-1. Pickering pressed Buffalo, and were rewarded with PP chances to gain the tying goal. Unfortunately for the Panthers, they were looking for life from the PP, and found the opposite. A pair of mistakes at the blueline gave the Sabres first a breakaway goal (Chris Kaleta), and then an odd-man rush goal (Andrew Klin) to make the score 4-1, and put the game out of reach. Late in the contest, tempers began to build, as the two teams have a return match in Buffalo in one week. The differing styles of hockey clashed, leading to a scrum in front of the Panther goal, and a one-on-one fight in the corner. In front of the goal Panther forward Paul Jackiw and Sabre Ryan Stouffer were wrestling on the ice when Sabre forward Nicholas Panepinto jumped Jackiw from behind and entered the altercation. He would receive a 3rd man in misconduct for his actions. At the same time Panther rookie, 1991 born Des Cowan was invloved with 1989 born Nick Ryan. Cowan showed the poised of a veteran, battling Ryan by first removing his helmet that included a protective cage, and then standing tall in the altercation as the Panther fans erupted in the seats. The officials quickly handled any problems, and the game was underway with little delay, and finished without incident. Make the final 4-1 Buffalo. Pickering's next contest is Wednesday night when they host the visiting Trenton Hercs - game time is 7:30pm. On Saturday, in West Seneca NY, the Panthers and Sabres go at it again - game time is 7:00pm. COPYWRIGHT PICKERING PANTHERS JR.A HOCKEY CLUB NEXT GAME Trenton Hercs @ Pickering Panthers OCT.8th / 7:30pm Pre-Game Stats LAST GAME Buffalo Jr. Sabres-4 @ Pickering Panthers-1 BOXSCORE