Series Recap: Pickering vs Wellington (Round 1)

The Pickering Panthers and Wellington Dukes met in the 1st round of the OJHL playoffs. Pickering came in as the 3 seed in the east conference.

Pickering took 4 straight games to sweep the series. They will face Stouffville next round.

Transcript

Thomas West 0:00

Key has hit the crossbar on the power play. Shot for the point. Rebound scars. Another lay one by the Pickering Panthers. And it's Jake Mallory who gets the goal. Pickering back in the lead.

SPEAKER_04 0:15

Yeah, we're such a resilient group. I mean, like, you know, the big big thing we talked about, you know, coming into the series was uh don't get too high, don't get too low. So, you know, we're just trying to stay even keeled. Just, you know, whatever happens, we play our game, and if we do that, we should have no problem being successful.

Thomas West 0:30

So the Pickering Panthers come away with a wild victory. It was back and forth from start to finish. Pickering wins it 6-3 with the empty net goal laid by Colangelo. They came back and got the game-winning goal from Jake Mallory at two. So did his teammate Matt Indivina, and the Pickering Panthers win game one. In Pickering, 14 degrees outside the recreation complex. Doesn't really feel like hockey weather, but it definitely is. It's the Pickering Panthers and Wellington Dukes for game three. The Panthers have a 2-0 series lead, and have been really good so far in this series. Out shooting the Wellington Dukes in the first two games. 97 to 49.

SPEAKER_02 1:26

Giralo, Grasby, and Campbell tied up together. Lost to the line. Etier leaves his way in, drops it off for Secko. Launch of the goal, deflected, they score. Evan Elliott redirects the pass. Centered to the slot by Kyle Secko. Etier with a smart move to drop it back. He drew a couple nukes defenders right to him. Left the door open for Secko. He throws it on the goal. And Elliott redirects it home to the five-ball to Riley on the 23rd shot of the night for kick rate. The visitors have tied the game. Inside Castante. Left side key looking backdoor. In Divina with a chance and they score. And Davina just kicks it off his skate and then do his stick, and he put it home past Dryan Riley. That's a power play goal, and it pretty much evens out the special teams game. Campbell can't get a shot away. It's gonna leak out, and that's gonna do it. Pickering Panthers will steal it. Key is away to the races, he'll bear it in the empty net, and the Panthers have a 2-0 series lead.

Thomas West 2:28

So it's been dominance. The Panthers had a really good four check, but the games have been close. 6-3 with an empty net goal in game one. And then if you look back to game two, a 3-1 victory where the Panthers were down 1-0 in each of those games. So Wellington has found a way to stay in it. And they'll probably want to spend a little bit more time in the offensive zone in this one today. So I want to go back to a quote that Marco Castante said after or right before game two. Always nice to win the first game of the series. How satisfied are you with where you're at right now?

SPEAKER_05 3:04

Not satisfied at all, not the little spit. We still got a long way to go. First round, we still got four more to go. Three more games for this win, and then uh we'll see where we go from there.

Thomas West 3:15

But if you also hear what some of the other players are saying, they're not getting ahead of themselves. They want to take it one game at a time, but I'm sure in game three they'll want a little bit more from what they've seen in the first two games. One of the best players on the ice on either teams has been Matt Indivina. Comes back to Devin Ferroni, he takes the shot, rebound behind the goal and the scar! Matt Indovina from a sharp angle, and the Panthers take the lead. Matt Indovina feeds the speedster and Evan Elliott. Elliott takes a check. Indivina has it now and fires a shot scars. Matt Indovina from long distance.

SPEAKER_02 3:55

And the Panthers have regained a two-goal lead. Captain Zycastante. Left side key looking backdoor. Indivina with a chance and they score. Indivina just kicked it off his skate and then to his stick, and he put it home past Dryan Riley. That's a power play goal, and it pretty much evens out the special teams game.

Thomas West 4:16

Has three goals, scored two in game one, got the game-winning goal last game in Wellington. And the Pickering Panthers will look for his offense and unreal ability to pick pucks on the four check to keep them going in this series. Alright, joined now by Matt Indivina. Matt, the offense was great in this series. 97 shots on goal in the first two games. What do you think the key has been to all that offensive pressure?

SPEAKER_07 4:41

Um, I think we're just keeping it simple. We're going low to high, we're getting pucks in the net, and I think we just need more traffic in front of them.

Thomas West 4:47

I talked to your teammate Marco Costante after game one. I said, How satisfied are you with the one-nothing serious lead? And he said, Not at all. How satisfied are you with the two-nothing serious lead?

SPEAKER_07 4:57

Not satisfied as all at all yet. You know, it's still, it's it's only 2-0, and there's still four more games left, so we need to keep playing the way we've been playing. There's there's no more, uh, no more I can tell that.

Thomas West 5:09

Man, I think about your line, one of the few lines that stayed intact tonight. Uh the four-check has been so good. Just tell me about how key the four-check has been, especially on your line, uh, just to show your success in this series.

SPEAKER_07 5:21

Uh, that's how we're getting chances just four-checking them. We know that their D aren't very strong, so if we can get on them quick and hunt pucks, they uh they turn pucks over very easily, so we can get that and get pucks high. Go to high again, pucks the net. Matt, thanks for this.

Thomas West 5:33

Good luck tonight. Thank you. That was the voice of Matt Indivina there in the warm-up. And if you think about the way that this series has gone so far, a 2-0 lead for the Pickering Panthers, and not a lot of offensive zone time for the Wellington Dukes. And I think back to a quote that Kyle Kavok said back in game one where he said sometimes the best defense is a good offense. And I'm starting to kind of get the sense of what Kyle Kavak meant. There was no scoring on the side. There wasn't some scoring opportunities. There was a post on the side of the Wellington dude. He had a post as well. There were scoring hands. I don't know if there was a single period of play where Wellington had a possession advantage and also had a shot on goal advantage. After one period of play, it was 0-0. A really good start for them. After the first period, I caught off with Panthers defenseman Kyle Secko, who was filling a bigger role in this game today with one of their top defensemen, Michael Levine, out of the lineup. Alright, joined now by Kyle Secko. Kyle, uh, nothing nothing in the first period. I'm just wondering, uh, just an assessment of your team's play through 20.

SPEAKER_09 7:42

Uh, I mean, we're working hard, like moving the puck butt, simplify, like on our breakouts using the glass and just cleaning up the D zone. If we do that, it should be good.

Thomas West 7:51

Kyle, I I've just got this sense that the message is really strong in the locker room and everyone's just kind of pulling in the same direction right now. Like, how much of that is kind of propelling you your team to the even just the first two games and your first two wins?

SPEAKER_09 8:03

Yeah, for sure. The older guys definitely stepping up, kind of getting everybody on track. But yeah, when everybody's on the same page working to the same goal, like just like a good feeling in the room makes everybody want to do stuff for each other. So yeah, it's helping us a lot for sure.

Thomas West 8:17

And all those are so kind of a bit of a next man up mentality. You're missing one of your big defenseman and Michael Levine, but I think about a guy like you who's playing some big minutes tonight. Like when you play so much on the ace, does that kind of help build your confidence? Because it seems like uh you're looking pretty confident out there.

SPEAKER_09 8:32

Yeah, for sure. Definitely being out there helps a lot. You know, like you make a couple good plays, get your feet going. Definitely doesn't help if like you're on the bench too much. But yeah, it's just uh Levine's played a big role. So if I could do anything, like uh to kind of fill his shoes, I'd be good, yeah.

Thomas West 8:47

Alright, thanks so much for this. Good luck in the second.

SPEAKER_09 8:49

Yeah, thank you.

Thomas West 8:51

A minute and 24 seconds to go on the power play. Here's a near two-on-o. Landon Marlowe. Driver to the goal, they score! It's Mitchell on the rebound. The Panthers' defense just got caught on a line change. And the Dukes lead 1-0. Dumped back in by the Duke. Just daunting in the corner to get it. Flips this one out. Bruce to the trailer in Indovina. Eastgates across the line. Matt Indovina right to the goal. He's cards. Oh, what a move by Indivina. His fourth goal of the series, and the Panthers have tied it. Two goals in game one. The game-winning goal in game two, and he's tied the game in game three. Matt Indivina continuing to play well for the Panthers in this series. And a breakaway pass. And it's wide by Angelo Proto-Pappas. His second breakaway in the last two games. Proto-Papas back on it, driving towards the goal. Angelo Proto-Pappas finds a pulse behind the net, sends it back out. Marco Castante's guard. All the momentum on the side of the Pickering Panthers now. And it's Marco Castante who gets the goal. Two one. Oh, Angelo Protopapus was just circling the offensive zone on the hot shaft. Eventually found the sure-handed defenseman in Marco Costante. And it seemed like he was due for a goal in this series. He goes low blocker side, and it's 2-1. Carrier drives below the goal. Flips this one back out. And then a one-time shot. Rebound scores! Evan Irwin. Oh, and he got it with one second to go with a five-on-three. So the power play will continue for Wellington. Indivina goes below the goal line. Swings it all the way back to the point. Devin Frodo with a shot dipped in front. Oh, it was right there for Angelo Proto Pappas, but couldn't corral the bouncing puck. Shaw with a shot from the point. Big deflection. Rebound scores. Gabe Chirello! Another late goal at the end of a period for Pickering. And Gabe Chiarello scores the goal. I felt like there's two players that have been really due for a goal in this series. One Marco Castante, two Gabe Chirello. Both the Milton Menace acquisitions. And this one flipped out to Stedder Race. So it looks like the Dukes are gonna escape the late penalty this time. But they do give up a goal with 38 seconds to go. The Pickering Panthers take the lead late. It was a back and forth, five goal second period, and another great finish coming up here in Pickering. Alright, joined now by Gabe Torello. Gabe, I know you played really well in this series. You were looking for a goal. How good did it feel just to pot one?

SPEAKER_08 12:15

Yeah, I know. I mean, it feels great. You know, I've been buzzing around the net, just you know, pucks aren't going in for me, but I feel like I'm contributing other ways to help the team win. But, you know, getting one in feels great.

Thomas West 12:24

What is it about this team? They just feel like they have a knack for scoring goals late in periods. Maybe it speaks to the depth of your team, but what do you think it is, your ability to score late in periods?

SPEAKER_08 12:33

I think it's just our determination. You know, we keep breaking down teams, you know, until they finally break, and then, you know, we finally capitalize on our chances, and they'll come the end.

Thomas West 12:40

3-0 series lead for you guys would be huge. What do you guys need to do in the third period to close it out?

SPEAKER_08 12:45

Yeah, you know, we're just gonna lock it down, keep playing our game, you know, get pucks in deep bang bodies, you know, get the get this get this win. All right, Gabe, thanks for this. Good luck in the third. Appreciate that. Thank you.

Thomas West 12:54

The Duke set up again six on five, and it's picked off. Angelo Proto-Pappas for the empty cage, and he put it wide. Flipped out once again. I think that proto-pappas shot may have deflected off a stick. Devin Ferroni fanned on it, nearly turned it over. Long shot by Indivina, blocked at the blue line. Robart lays down a hit, pokes the puck, carrier gets it towards the corner. Shot stopped by Castante in front. Ten seconds to go. The Dukes have it, flipped back out, scramble for the puck in the blue page. It's still loose. Now behind the goal, three seconds left to go! Whistle! The clock has not expired. 1.3 on the clock. There were some nervous moments in the Pickering Panther net. Wellington never really had a shot on goal, but it was just a scramble for it. That's the way you get some late goals. Now 1.3 on the clock, and the Panthers just need to mop this draw to win the game. Logo on the draw, does just that, and it's blocked by Marco Castante, and the Panthers will win the game. Pickering takes game three, three to two, and they push the Wellington Doves to the brink of elimination with a 3-0 series lead.

SPEAKER_03 14:24

Panthers head coach Connor Lammer, just happy to get the win in an ugly game with a little flow thanks to the 21 penalties call, almost half of them coming in the final period.

SPEAKER_01 14:37

Yeah, yeah, we're happy to get that win obviously. It's a tough game to kind of get any flow with all the penalties, and didn't really feel like too much of a playoff game, to be honest. But uh you're gonna have those every now and then. So um our special teams did a fairly good job, uh, like scoring the power play, uh obviously. But um, yeah, it was just we we found a way, and that's what we talk about uh in playoffs. You gotta do that.

SPEAKER_02 15:00

All set to go here at Lehigh Arena in game number four. Wellington Dukes versus the Pickering Panthers in a series that uh could have gone either way at this point, but the Dukes find themselves staring down the barrel of the gun right now, trailing 3-0 off the face-off win by the Dukes. Gabriel Shirallo not in for Pickering, so it seems like Connor Armour trusts his depth enough. There's a turnover behind the net, centered out in front, and they score Kyle Kavok with his second of the series. And for the first time in the series, Pickering has drawn first blood. Terms of just chippox in and out. Now a break for Kavok. Everybody left him alone. Kavok right in scores. Kyle Kavok, second of the game. He roofs it over Dryden Riley's glove hand to make it 2-0. As the Pickering Panthers are going to move on to round number two with a four-game sweep for the Wellington Dukes. It's the second straight year the Dukes have been conked out in round one.

Thomas West 16:02

Well, it was a four-nothing series sweep for the Pickering Panthers in that series over the Wellington Dukes. And the Panthers they played some really good hockey, but I was particularly impressed with the play of Kyle Kavick, getting those two goals in that final Game Four victory, playing against his former team, and he was obviously very fired up about the concept of that, playing against the team that he played for at the beginning of the season, and he was fantastic for the pick great Panthers in this series. But where the Panthers really outplayed the Dukes was on defense. The Panthers have had really strong defensemen all season long. That's one of the big strengths of the Panthers. That was not a strength of the Wellington Dukes. They had a lot of trouble getting the puck out of the zone, and the Panthers have a really good forecheck. They've got some forward lines that are just absolutely relentless on the forecheck. That for me was the turning point in that series. Now, looking ahead to what's next for the Pickering Panthers, the Stobile Spirit took down their opponent, the St. Mike's buzzers, in five games. It was a thriller in their final game. They ended up winning four three scored with 49 seconds left to win the game. So they're riding that momentum going into this series against the Pickering Panthers.

SPEAKER_00 17:20

Good work by York. Daniel York with a good flock. 49 seconds to go! Scoville Spirit have a four-three lead.

Thomas West 17:34

This will be a different series. The Panthers will have a little bit more trouble on the four check and won't be able to kind of dominate the possession of the play like they did in this series. In fact, Stoville played the Pickering Panthers pretty well in the regular season. So if you look all the way back to the beginning of the year, now I should mention the Panthers haven't played the Stoville spirit in a while. But they played their first game in the regular season at home at the Pickering Recreation Complex against Stoville, and they lost 8-0. And this was an early turning point for Pickering because they came back in the very next game, just a few days later, and beat Stoville. Losing nothing, win four three. That was back on September 11th, and that's the only win that the Pickering Panthers have against Doville this season. They played a couple months ago, that was a 3-1 loss, and Gnowville's also won five nothing, so the Panthers have won one other four meetings against Stovville. This is a different Panther team, and these two teams haven't played each other in a while. This should be a fantastic series against two of the best teams in the OJHL East Conference. So thanks so much for tuning in to this series recap of the Pickering Panthers and Wellington Dukes. And before we let you go, here's a recap of every goal scored by the Pickering Panthers in this series. Kavok, the former Duke, gets the puck down low, sends it back out in front. Now it comes to Etier below the goal line. Wraparound try, loose and friendly score. The Pickering Panthers tie the game, and it's Kyle Kavok who gets the goal. Comes back to Devin Froni, takes the shot, rebound behind the goal and a score. Matt Indita from a sharp angle, and the Panthers take the lead. Costante with a shot. It's wide. Key trying to back it in. Loose and friendly score. Jake Mallory with three seconds to go. And the Panthers lead three to one.

SPEAKER_02 19:39

Lost to the line. Etier weaves his way in, drops it off for Secko. Launch of the goal deflected, they score. Evan Elliott redirects the pass. Centered to the slot by Kyle Secko. Left side key looking backdoor. In Davina with a chance and they score. And that's gonna do it. Pick Ring Panthers will steal it. Key is away to the races. He'll bear it in the empty net, and the Panthers have a 2-0 series lead.

Thomas West 20:04

Castante in the corner to get it. Flips this one out. Bruce. To the trailer in Indivina. He skates across the line. Matt Indovina right to the goal, he scores! What a move, but Indovina, his fourth goal of the series, and the Panthers have tied it. And a breakaway pass. And it's lied by Angelo Proto-Papas, his second breakaway in the last two games. Proto-Papas back on it, driving towards the goal. Angelo Proto-Papas finds a pelts behind the net, sends it back out. Marco Castante scars. All the momentum on the side of the Pickering Panthers now. And it's Marco Castante who gets the goal. 2-1. And he matched that total again this year in the regular season. Indivina goes below the goal line. Swings it all the way back to the point. Damn it. But couldn't corral the bouncing puck. Shaw with a shot for the point. Big deflection rebound scores! Gabe Chirello and the Panthers retake the lead in the final minute of the second period. Another late goal at the end of a period for Pickering. And Gabe Chirello scores the goal. I felt like there's two players that have been really due for a goal in this series. One Marco Costante, two Gabe Chirello, both the Milton Menace acquisitions.