The Embrun Panthers travelled to the Earl Armstrong Arena in Ottawa on Tues., March 10, to take on the Ottawa Jr. Canadians for game one of the best-of-seven CCHL2 Martin Division semi-final. The Panthers’ captain, Tristan Taillefer (16) scored the lone goal for the Panthers in a hard-fought defensive game. Taillefer lead the Panthers in the regular season with 33 goals, 20 assists for 53 points in 44 games. Moore photo

OTTAWA—The Panthers opened the playoffs on the road as they travelled to Ottawa on March 10 to take on the Ottawa Junior Canadians. The Panthers were unaware that game would be their final game of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Canadians 2 Panthers 1

The Embrun Panthers travelled to the Earl Armstrong Arena in Ottawa on Tues., March 10 to take on the Ottawa Jr. Canadians for game one of the best-of-seven CCHL2 Martin Division semi-final. The Canadians earned home ice advantage with a win in their final game of the regular season, finishing just one point ahead of the Panthers. 

The series shaped up to be close with the teams mirroring each other and it proved to be the case in the opening frame as both teams pounded nine shots each on goal but neither was able to score. The teams took a scoreless draw into the first intermission. 

The Panthers opened the scoring when Tristan Taillefer scored his first goal of the preseason from Marshal Drevniok at the five-minute mark of the first period, taking a 1-0 lead. The Canadians tied the game at 6:31 as Griffin McGregor scored his first of the post-season from Mike Hall and Nicolas Seguin on the power play. The teams took a one-all deadlock into the second intermission with the Panthers outshooting the Canadians 13-10 in period two. 

The Canadians took their first lead of the game as Chazka Bush scored his first of the playoffs from William Fitzsimmons and George Daher at 11:50 of the third period. 

With over a minute and a half remaining, the Panthers pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker; with 55 seconds left in the period, the Canadians took a penalty putting the Panthers up two men. The Panthers tried to tie the game but the clock was not their friend as the buzzer sounded before they could draw even. 

The Canadians took the game 2-1 and took a 1-0 series lead heading back to Embrun. The Panthers outshot the Canadians 22-20. Picking up the win in the Canadians’ goal was Ryan Whitehurst making 20 saves and suffering the loss in the Panthers’ goal was William Nguyen making 18 saves.

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Unfortunately, Hockey Eastern Ontario and Hockey Canada have cancelled the rest of the season as of Thurs., March 12. There will be no more hockey for the remainder of the season due to fears of COVID-19.