Panthers fail to hold late 3rd period lead and were upended 6-3 by the Nanaimo Bucs

The Peninsula Panthers continue to take more than their fair share of bumps and bruises in the win/loss column after being edged 6-3 by the visiting Nanaimo Buccaneers on Friday evening at the Panorama Recreation Centre.  But there were plenty of bright spots in the game as the Club held 2-1 and 3-2 period leads before the roof fell in in a messy 3rd stanza.

Connor Logan and Cole Glover were Panthers marksmen in the 1st period and Captain Brett Sjerven wired a wrist shot from the blueline in the 2nd and it looked like the game would have a great final 20 minutes for the 223 fans in attendance.

But a steady parade to the penalty box starting midway through the final frame spelled disaster for the club as the Bucs scored four unanswered goals including an empty net tally to steal the two points.

And on Saturday night the Club traveled to Comox to take on the Glacier Kings and two goals by rookie Grayden Hohl was simply not enough as the Panthers were knocked off 4-2.  The game looked winable but once again an empty net marker in the final minute put the final nail in the coffin and continued the winless streak which has followed the Panthers from the opening game this season.

"Opening the season going 0-6 is not exactly what we thought would happen and it certainly is not a lot of fun for anyone," said Pete Zubersky.  "But at least three or four of the games have been winable and we have to continue to battle.  Once we get into the win column things will come around, I really don't think we are that far off."

The Panthers are back at home on Friday night when they once again host the Victoria Cougars.  The pucks is set to drop at 7:30 pm.