Panthers snap losing skid
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A five-goal second period went a long way in enabling the Port Hope Panthers to ultimately defeat the Napanee Raiders 6-5 in an Empire junior C hockey game at the Jack Burger Sports Complex on Saturday night.
Port Hope trailed 2-0 after the first period, but took the lead when Brad Heykoop, Matt Allen and Kevin Curridor scored within the first three-and- a-half minutes of the second.
A few minutes later, Napanee got one back to make it 3- 3, but Kyle Giroux scored twice during the remainder of the second frame to give the Panthers what proved to be an important two-goal advantage after two periods of play.
Napanee's Evan Culbert scored a power play goal early in the third to cut the deficit to one before Dan McCarthy restored the two-goal Port Hope lead.
Another power play goal at the 16:25 mark once again pulled the Raiders to within one, but the Panthers held on for the victory, despite having to kill off some penalties in the late going.
In total, Napanee had 18 power play opportunities in the contest and scored on three of them. Port Hope was scoreless on three chances with the man advantage.
After snapping a four-game losing skid -- including a 9-6 defeat Thursday in Picton -- on Saturday, the Panthers are now on hiatus over the Christmas holidays.
They return to action Saturday, Jan. 2 to host the Amherstview Jets in the first game of a home-and-home matchup. The Panthers play in Amherstview the following night, Jan. 3.
