The Picton Pirates didn’t have enough on the road to get past the Port Hope Panthers Saturday night, losing 4-2.
The Pirates, who sat just ahead of the Panthers in the East Tod Division standings heading into Saturday’s game, broke a 0-0 tie early in the second period.
Nate Boomhower scored his sixth goal of the season under three minutes into the second period with Devin Morrison and Ben Smith drawing assists.
Just past the halfway point of the period Noah Brant followed suit, also scoring his sixth of the year with the set-up going to Landon McLellan who extended his team leading point total to 16 with the assist.
However, the offence ended there for the Pirates as the Panthers took over and didn’t look back.
Before the end of the second period, Port Hope’s Nathan Ford scored his first of the season to make it 2-1 Picton and with time winding down in the period, Nolan Stevenson scored his 14th to knot the game heading into the intermission.
About seven-and-a-half minutes into the third period, Picton’s Morrison took a slashing penalty and on the ensuing power play the Panthers capitalized with Stevenson netting his second of the game.
A Carter Clarke empty net goal with one second remaining on the clock was enough to seal the deal on a 4-2 Panthers win as they draw within one point of the Pirates in the standings.
Picton’s Tyler Hayes was busy in the crease all night stopping 42 of 45 shots faced in the losing effort.
The Pirates now look ahead to Thursday when they host the Campbellford Rebels at 7:30 p.m. in Picton.
