Remembering Panthers playoff dominance
As I write this, I'm sat in my garden taking in the hot summer weather, which is well balanced with a subtle breeze. In other words, playoff weather. Obviously, the leagues showpiece event isn't happening this year for the right reasons, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it stings to miss out on the ultimate hockey weekend. Intense hockey with a championship on the line, an electric atmosphere created by 10 sets of fans, people having vodka at breakfast, the list goes on as to what makes this weekend so special. For a Panthers fan, the last few finals weekends have provided some nightmare games though. Watching the Steelers who had brutally knocked us out go on to win it in 2017, then in 2018 watching the same team end Corey Neilson's Panthers tenure a day earlier than planned after dominating the majority of the game, and then there was 2019...let's not go there.
Instead, we'll go to the times when Panthers playoff performances peaked. We truly were spoiled in the period between 2011 and 2013. Having won 7 of the 9 domestic honours available during that period, it proved to be the golden era for the club. Three of those were of course, consecutive playoff championships. Regardless of the league campaigns, all 3 of which were quite different from another, Panthers would come out all guns blazing and I wanted to use this article as a chance to reminisce how remarkable our postseason campaigns were.
Look at 2011 for example. The league campaign had been very inconsistent, and after knocking out newcomers Braehead in the quarter finals, Panthers found themselves as the lowest seed at finals weekend. The odds were even more against them when they faced the league champions, Sheffield, who historically, had dominated the Panthers in playoff games. That same script was followed when Steelers were 2-0 up in 5 minutes. Thank god Ervins Mustukovs couldn't have caught a cold that day though, making two horrendous errors, not least on the overtime winner when youngster Robert Lachowicz was on the doorstep to initiate euphoric celebrations in the NIC.
Awaiting them in the final was a Cardiff team who had only lost the league on a tiebreaker, and had set the record for most wins in a row with 21. Once again, Panthers found themselves down by 2 thanks to the incredible Jon Pelle, but Panthers fought their way back again and David Bearegard's goal from a tight angle wrapped up a sensational victory.
Things continued to go uphill the following season. A title challenge that lasted longer, a third straight Challenge Cup, and a lot of optimism going in the post season...until we found ourselves 3-0 down to the Clan in the quarters. Yet another comeback unfolded though, when Panthers dominated the Clan in a 5-1 win (5-4 on aggregate), thanks to Brandon Benedict's overtime winner to set a playoff semi final date with the Hull Stingrays, who had defied the odds to knock out the Steelers. Hull's luck would end there though, as Panthers went on an all out rampage to win 10-3, becoming the only team to hit double figures at a finals weekend during the Elite League era. Once again, the Devils were our final opponents, but we wouldn't be seeing goals galore this time. Both teams remained solid at the back, and as a result the deadlock wasn't broken until there was just over 7 minutes remaining. Mr Playoffs himself, David Bearegard once again scored the game winner, having time to quickly pull a move on Stevie Lyle.
I don't need to go into the ins and outs of what made the following season the best in Panthers history. The long awaited league title was finally won, along with a fourth straight Challenge Cup, meaning the playoffs were going to secure a Grand Slam (or treble if you like clutching at straws). I feel like the playoffs often don't get enough recognition as a result of the league win, which makes sense I guess, but let's consider how we won it. After comebacks from 2-0 and 3-0 down in the previous playoff wins, Panthers were forced to go one better when after 2 periods, they were down by 4. Over the next 4 periods of the 2 legged affair, Panthers once again came out victorious, with David Bearegard once again involved in the game winning goal, setting up Robert Lachowicz to complete another playoff comeback. By this point, it seemed like Panthers were untouchable in the playoffs. There just always seemed to be way to get the results.
After facing them in the 2 previous finals, Panthers would this time meet Cardiff at the semi final stage. Hat tricks for both Cardiff born Matthew Myers and Bruce Graham would propel the team in black and gold to a comfortable 6-3 win and yet another final, probably for the first time as favourites, but only just. Standing in the way of our grand slam dreams was the Belfast Giants, who were next up to see if they could break Panthers playoff domination. It doesn't get much more exciting than 1st vs 2nd for a trophy, and the game certainly lived up to expectations. Two powerplay goals, one being a flukey bounce off Stephen Murphy credited to Robert Lachowicz, followed by a thunderbolt from Jonathan Weaver had Panthers firmly in control after 2 periods. However, Giants showed though why they had been Panthers closest contenders all season and would score twice in 4 minutes to tie things up. A nail biting overtime period unfolded, but nerves turned to elation as captain Jordan Fox squeezed one under Murphy to complete Panthers trophy sweep.
Whilst winning the Elite League requires long term consistency, there is pretty much no room whatsoever for slip ups in the playoffs. You have to be at your absolute best to be crowned champions which makes doing so an amazing feeling. We faced adversity in all 3 of these playoff runs, and had to react very quickly to overcome it and continued to rise to the challenge. We were bought back down to earth the following year though,at the hands of Braehead, who handed us a slaughtering, which in a way, helped to put into perspective how lucky we were to witness the greatness we did. Could we have repeated those standards this year? We'll never know, but as things gradually start to improve, I don't think it's irrational to think Tim Wallace could guide us to similar heights...
Instead, we'll go to the times when Panthers playoff performances peaked. We truly were spoiled in the period between 2011 and 2013. Having won 7 of the 9 domestic honours available during that period, it proved to be the golden era for the club. Three of those were of course, consecutive playoff championships. Regardless of the league campaigns, all 3 of which were quite different from another, Panthers would come out all guns blazing and I wanted to use this article as a chance to reminisce how remarkable our postseason campaigns were.
Look at 2011 for example. The league campaign had been very inconsistent, and after knocking out newcomers Braehead in the quarter finals, Panthers found themselves as the lowest seed at finals weekend. The odds were even more against them when they faced the league champions, Sheffield, who historically, had dominated the Panthers in playoff games. That same script was followed when Steelers were 2-0 up in 5 minutes. Thank god Ervins Mustukovs couldn't have caught a cold that day though, making two horrendous errors, not least on the overtime winner when youngster Robert Lachowicz was on the doorstep to initiate euphoric celebrations in the NIC.
Awaiting them in the final was a Cardiff team who had only lost the league on a tiebreaker, and had set the record for most wins in a row with 21. Once again, Panthers found themselves down by 2 thanks to the incredible Jon Pelle, but Panthers fought their way back again and David Bearegard's goal from a tight angle wrapped up a sensational victory.
Things continued to go uphill the following season. A title challenge that lasted longer, a third straight Challenge Cup, and a lot of optimism going in the post season...until we found ourselves 3-0 down to the Clan in the quarters. Yet another comeback unfolded though, when Panthers dominated the Clan in a 5-1 win (5-4 on aggregate), thanks to Brandon Benedict's overtime winner to set a playoff semi final date with the Hull Stingrays, who had defied the odds to knock out the Steelers. Hull's luck would end there though, as Panthers went on an all out rampage to win 10-3, becoming the only team to hit double figures at a finals weekend during the Elite League era. Once again, the Devils were our final opponents, but we wouldn't be seeing goals galore this time. Both teams remained solid at the back, and as a result the deadlock wasn't broken until there was just over 7 minutes remaining. Mr Playoffs himself, David Bearegard once again scored the game winner, having time to quickly pull a move on Stevie Lyle.
I don't need to go into the ins and outs of what made the following season the best in Panthers history. The long awaited league title was finally won, along with a fourth straight Challenge Cup, meaning the playoffs were going to secure a Grand Slam (or treble if you like clutching at straws). I feel like the playoffs often don't get enough recognition as a result of the league win, which makes sense I guess, but let's consider how we won it. After comebacks from 2-0 and 3-0 down in the previous playoff wins, Panthers were forced to go one better when after 2 periods, they were down by 4. Over the next 4 periods of the 2 legged affair, Panthers once again came out victorious, with David Bearegard once again involved in the game winning goal, setting up Robert Lachowicz to complete another playoff comeback. By this point, it seemed like Panthers were untouchable in the playoffs. There just always seemed to be way to get the results.
After facing them in the 2 previous finals, Panthers would this time meet Cardiff at the semi final stage. Hat tricks for both Cardiff born Matthew Myers and Bruce Graham would propel the team in black and gold to a comfortable 6-3 win and yet another final, probably for the first time as favourites, but only just. Standing in the way of our grand slam dreams was the Belfast Giants, who were next up to see if they could break Panthers playoff domination. It doesn't get much more exciting than 1st vs 2nd for a trophy, and the game certainly lived up to expectations. Two powerplay goals, one being a flukey bounce off Stephen Murphy credited to Robert Lachowicz, followed by a thunderbolt from Jonathan Weaver had Panthers firmly in control after 2 periods. However, Giants showed though why they had been Panthers closest contenders all season and would score twice in 4 minutes to tie things up. A nail biting overtime period unfolded, but nerves turned to elation as captain Jordan Fox squeezed one under Murphy to complete Panthers trophy sweep.
Whilst winning the Elite League requires long term consistency, there is pretty much no room whatsoever for slip ups in the playoffs. You have to be at your absolute best to be crowned champions which makes doing so an amazing feeling. We faced adversity in all 3 of these playoff runs, and had to react very quickly to overcome it and continued to rise to the challenge. We were bought back down to earth the following year though,at the hands of Braehead, who handed us a slaughtering, which in a way, helped to put into perspective how lucky we were to witness the greatness we did. Could we have repeated those standards this year? We'll never know, but as things gradually start to improve, I don't think it's irrational to think Tim Wallace could guide us to similar heights...
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