Adam Prudhomme
Beaver Sports
Amherstview’s playoff magic ran out on St. Patrick’s Day as they fell 7-2 to the Panthers in Port Hope in Game 5 of the PJHL’s Tod Division finals.
With the win the Panthers took the series 4-1 and captured the league title for a fourth straight year.
After giving the defending champions a run for much of the series, the Jets were simply over matched in Game 5, allowing four goals in the first period, and five straight overall before they could net one of their own. Joey Mayer interrupted the Panthers’ streak with an unassisted goal at the 5:25 mark of the second.
The Panthers tacked on one more in the second and another in the third before Jag Masters potted one late for the Jets, but it wasn’t nearly enough.
Alexei Masanko, who had been go good for the Jets all playoffs, made the start in net but gave way to Keegan Paulette after allowing four goals. Paulette made 24 saves to close out the game, but the offense wasn’t able to erase the early deficit. Sheldon Calbury stopped 29 Jet shots for the win.
The Jets opened the series with a thrilling overtime victory in Game 1 before the Panthers rallied back to win four straight. The Jets made them work for it however, as both Game 3 and 4 were anyone’s game late into the third before the Panthers erupted for three unanswered goals in both contests.
Though not the finish the Jets were looking for, their playoff run certainly spruced up the outlook on their overall season. After finishing 18-20-1 in the regular season and not expected to do much in the post season, they went on the upset the heavily favoured record setting Napanee Raiders in the semifinals before giving the Panthers a tough battle in the finals.
As for the Panthers, they now get set to represent the league in the Schmalz Cup playoffs, which gets underway tomorrow night with a road game against the Orr Division champion Lakefield Chiefs.
The Panthers are looking to complete a bit of unfinished business this spring. They’ve made the Schmalz Cup finals in each of the last three years, but have lost every time. They’re looking to become the first Tod Division team to win the provincial championship since the Picton Pirates in 2013.