The Pickering Panthers had a two-goal lead after two periods and cruised the rest of the way en route to a 7-3 win over the North York Rangers.
Doug Carter was all over the ice for Pickering, as he registered two goals in the win. Carter scored at 7:17 into the second period to make the score 2-1 Pickering and again while 19:24 into the second to make the score 5-4 Pickering.
The Panthers outdid their season average for goals scored. Pickering averages 3.5 goals per game. The Panthers’ defensemen played an important role in the offense, chipping in two goals. Pickering could not stay out of the penalty box, as the team accrued 24 minutes in penalties during the game.
Pickering additionally got points from Cam Palmer, who also tallied one goal and one assist, Chris Sekelyk, who also racked up one goal and one assist, Blake Coffey, who also had two goals and one assist, and Riley Devine, who also registered one goal and two assists. In addition, Pickering received assists from Sean Power, Cameron Lamport, Mitch Emerson, Daniel Barnes, and Mark Tenuta, who contributed one each and Kyler Challis and BJ Salerno, who each chipped in two.
North York was helped by Michael Morgan, who tallied one goal and one assist. Morgan scored on the power play 12:04 into the second period to make the score 3-2 North York. The Rangers had gotten the advantage when the Panthers’ Power was sent off for unsportsmanlike conduct. Luke Kutkevicius assisted on the tally. North York also got points from Zachary Fung, who also had one goal and one assist. North York also had goals scored by Austin Brown and Kyle Clarke, who each put in one. Other players who recorded assists for North York were Ted Hunt, Ryan Takamatsu, and Matthew Whittaker, who contributed one each.
Pickering’s Austin Washkurak stopped 26 shots out of the 29 that he faced. The Panthers registered two goals on six power play opportunities. North York’s starting goalie, Gianluca Baggetta, made 15 saves and finished with the loss before he was taken out in favor of Evgueni Makarski, who stopped seven shots. The Rangers incurred 32 minutes in penalty time with six minors.
