Loading ...While the Victoria Cougars have first place locked up, the Peninsula Panthers are trying to move up in the standings.
After clinching a first round playoff bye two weeks ago, Victoria goes for a season high tenth straight win tonight when it hosts Peninsula.
Game time at the Archie Browning Sports Centre, located at 1151 Esquimalt Rd., is 7:15 p.m.
The Cougars had a nine game winning streak earlier in the season which spanned from Sep. 8 to Oct. 6.
Last Saturday, Victoria (29-5-0-1) made it nine in a row following a 5-2 victory over the North Island Division leading Comox Valley Glacier Kings.
Connor Stephens scored twice for the Cougars while Graham Zagrodney, Chris Bannister, and Brody Coulter each added singles. Colin Minardi, who was playing alongside Bannister and Coulter, chipped in with three assists.
With a goal and an assist, Coulter’s two points moved him into a first place tie with Saanich’s Ty Jones for the VIJHL scoring lead. Both players have 63 points apiece.
Getting the start in net Saturday was Bryce Halverson who made 27 saves to improve to 7-0-0-0 on the season. Halverson currently leads all goaltenders with a 2.14 goals against average and a .911 save percentage.
Victoria has won all six meetings with the Panthers this season.
The two squads previously met on Jan. 12 with the Cougars eking out a 3-1 victory.
Peninsula (14-15-0-3) has one win in its last six games.
Last Friday, the Panthers dropped a 6-3 decision to the Saanich Braves. Scoring for Peninsula was Joe Densmore, Trevor Yee, and Josh Bloomenthal. The two teams were deadlocked at 3-3 before the Braves scored three unanswered third period goals.
Making his first start between the pipes was Mike Hallett who stopped 20-of-26 shots.
The Panthers currently sit eight points back of Comox Valley, five points back of Saanich, and three points back of the Oceanside Generals. However, Peninsula has three games in hand on the Glacier Kings, two games in hand on the Generals, and one game in hand on the Braves.
If the season was to end today, the No. 5 seed Panthers would be playing Oceanside in the first round of the playoffs.
Densmore sits 11th in league scoring with 17 goals and 19 assists for 36 points.
-
-
STANDINGS: Victoria – 1st place, 59 points, South Island Division. Peninsula – 3rd place, 31 points, South Island Division
-
TEAM LEADERS: Victoria – Brody Coulter, 27 goals; Brody Coulter, 36 assists; Robert Zadra, 123 penalty minutes. Peninsula – Joe Densmore, 17 goals; Jake Bryan, 25 assists; Kayle Ramsay, 88 penalty minutes
-
GOALTENDERS: Victoria – Bryce Halverson (2.14 goals against average, .911 save percentage); Evan Roch (2.81 goals against average, .884 save percentage). Peninsula – Kylar Stern (3.28 goals against average, .916 save percentage); Zach Wear (4.68 goals against average, .884 save percentage)
-
SEASON SERIES: Cougars lead series, 6-0-0-0
-
PAST RESULTS/FUTURE MEETINGS:
September 22, 2011. Peninsula Panthers 3 @ Victoria Cougars 4
September 30, 2011. Victoria Cougars 6 @ Peninsula Panthers 1
November 27, 2011. Peninsula Panthers 2 @ Victoria Cougars 4
December 10, 2011. Victoria Cougars 7 @ Peninsula Panthers 4
January 6, 2012. Victoria Cougars 4 @ Peninsula Panthers 3 (SO)
January 12, 2012. Peninsula Panthers 1 @ Victoria Cougars 3
February 10, 2012. Victoria Cougars @ Peninsula Panthers
-
HOME/AWAY RECORDS: Victoria – Home, 15-1-0-1. Peninsula – Away, 5-9-0-2
-
STREAKS: Victoria, 9-0-0-0. Peninsula, 0-1-0-0
-
LAST TEN: Victoria, 9-1-0-0. Peninsula, 3-5-0-2
-
