Big Win, Big Playoff Implications.

Jacob Pang and Jackson Estey had a multi-point game and 4 seperate Cougars found the back of the net as the Cougars downed the Panthers 4-3 in their last meeting in the the regular season. The Braun/Spiers/Braun line tallied 6 points in the loss.

It was a very back-and-forth affair with the two south juggernauts  battling for their lives as the top seed in the South is far from set in stone. The Cougars entered the game leading the South with a .733 win percentage to the Panthers .693. If the Panthers win the Cougars stay on top, but just barely.

The game was not without controversy. The Cougars 3rd and tying goal came into question. Jacob Pang fired a low shot onto the pad of Ashton Lukan. The Cougars cheered and the Ref called a goal, but the Panthers argued. Lukans pad was near the goal line and it was close, I mean really close. We don’t have the luxury of an NHL broadcast with cameras everywhere. We have one, and it’s not as high res as the Pros. But look for yourself. Feel free to click on the pictures, one I brightened and highlighted the goal line and puck. Without the overhead cam from the NHL we can’t be 100% sure either way, regardless it was a goal as called on the ice. And because it was so close, even if we did have video review, the goal would stand. There isn’t enough evidence to overturn the goal.

With just 2 minutes remaining in the game Ethan Roworth gave the Cougars the go-ahead goal and eventual game winner. The Cougars are in 1st place looking down the barrel of a playoff series against the Kerry Park Islanders. But 1st place is theirs to lose. The Panthers will certainly do whatever they can to take it from them.

Next up for Victoria is Westshore at home on Sunday, 330pm start.