The Port Moody Panthers are still in last place in the Pacific Junior Hockey League’s Tom Shaw conference, but a 3-1 win over the Aldergrove Kodiaks on Saturday has put them in the thick of a playoff race.
The win, on home ice, put the Panthers just two points behind the Kodiaks and three behind the Langley Trappers for the post-season’s cross-over position. The Panthers have played two more games than Aldergrove, but one less than Langley.
Saturday, the Kodiaks grabbed the lead 13:44 into the first period when Austin Cook beat Panthers’ keeper Alexander Kong on a set up from Davin Padgham.
It stayed that way until early in the second period, when Allan Gekhman tied it up 4:26 after the intermission break. Christian Bettiol then scored the winning goal on a power play 6:10 into the third period as Aldergrove’s Tyler Cannon served out a two-minute minor penalty for high sticking.
Cameron Luk increased Port Moody’s cushion to a pair of goals with less than five minutes left in the third period.
The game’s importance in the race for a playoff position may have sparked a bit of a scuffle late in the game as Port Moody’s Cameron Judson and Aldergrove’s Ty Pickering were assessed minor penalties and misconducts.
Jack Hamilton’s two assists led all Port Moody scorers and earned him the game’s first star. Kong stopped 26 of the 27 shots he face in the Panthers’ net.
Port Moody travels to Abbotsford for a game against the Pilots tonight (Friday) and then return to host the dismal Surrey Knights, who’ve won only one game all season, Saturday, 7:45 p.m., at Port Moody Arena.
The team is then off until Jan. 5
