Ashton Lukan stopped 21 out of 22 shots as the Panthers beat the Victoria Cougars 4-1 thanks to two goals from Matthew Seale, whose opening goal and empty-net goal book-ended the scoring at North Saanich’s Panorama Recreation Centre.
Trailing 3-2 after two periods and 4-3 halfway through the third period, Riley Braun scored the winning goal for the Panthers with 45 seconds left in the game.
Head coach Brad Tippett struck a comparable note.
“Riley Braun turned a puck over in Kerry Park that led to a goal against,” he said.
With both victories, the Panthers now find themselves above .500 with 24 out of 44 possible points and in third place in the South Division, three points behind the second-placed Westshore Wolves.
The Panthers return to action on Wednesday on the road against the Saanich Predators, whom they will host in a matinee game Thursday at Panorama Recreation Centre, where the puck will drop at 2 p.m.