There's still more than two weeks left in the Pacific Junior Hockey League season, but the Port Moody Panthers are looking at each game as if it's their last.
The Panthers saw a three-game win streak snapped Saturday night in a 5-3 loss to the visiting Mission City Outlaws.
"Obviously it was a disappointing loss for us on Saturday night. We felt we were the better team for sure but sometimes the bounces don't go your way," said Panthers head coach Jamie Jackson.
The two teams were tied 2-2 after the opening period and battled through a scoreless second. Kurt Sonne gave the Panthers the lead with 12 minutes left in the third but the Outlaws came back just a few minutes later to score twice in a nine-second span.
"They got a nice play off the face-off through a screen to tie it up. Right after that they came back pretty hard and brought the puck to the net and got kind of a lucky bounce on the short side of the net," said Jackson.
"Then we just couldn't find a way to put the puck in the net in the last few minutes of the game. We pulled the goalie and made a run for it but it just wouldn't go in for us."
The Outlaws added an empty-netter to ice the victory. Nico Marconato and Nicholas Franco also scored for Port Moody, who got two assists from Jordan Wharrie.
The win leaves the Panthers one point back of the Outlaws for the final playoff position with just four games remaining.
"I think our playoffs started on Saturday night," said Jackson.
Saturday's loss proved extra costly for the Panthers, who lost forward Sammy Zeinab for the season to a broken clavicle. He joins Brendin Logan and Jonathon McPherson on the Panthers' injured list for the remainder of the year.
"It makes it a little harder. We definitely need some of the guys that have been a little sleepy the last couple of months to wake up and start contributing," said Jackson.
The Panthers stretched their winning streak to three games with a 3-2 overtime decision over the Aldergrove Kodiaks last Wednesday. James Jerczynski, Wolfgang Schoenefuhs and Cole Wirch-Methorst scored for the Panthers, with Liam Smith turning aside 29 shots.
The Panthers are on the road Friday to face the Ridge Meadows Flames before returning home Saturday to take on the first-place and defending PJHL and Keystone Cup champion Richmond Sockeyes at 7:45 p.m.
"We've got a couple of tough games and we've got to put some good hockey on the ice," said Jackson. "We have to continue to focus on getting better as a group."
