Menace Analyst - Mikayla Guarasci

Milton Menace Preview: Menace vs Pickering Panthers, Round 1 Game 2 - March 10, 2023

The OJHL playoffs are officially underway, and the Milton Menace are ready for game two. They will take the ice at Milton Memorial Arena on Friday for their second game against the Pickering Panthers.

The Menace are headed into game two with a 1-0 series lead after a 3-2 come-from-behind victory on Wednesday night. Milton went into the third period down by one, but Jared Coccimiglio’s power-play goal won it for the Menace in the final minute of the game. Connor Driscoll scored the other two Menace goals. Forbes Andersen made 30 saves to secure the win for Milton.

Wednesday’s game saw 64 minutes in penalties between the two teams. Milton’s penalty kill was able to kill off each of the team’s penalties in game one. The Menace power play allowed a Panthers shorthanded goal in the first period but made up for it by scoring one with the man advantage late in the game. Special teams will be a major factor in game two, and as this series moves along, it will be important for the Menace to focus on making the most of any opportunity. If game one was any indication, this series will be tight until the end. One chance could end up being the difference maker.

So far this season, the home team has never won a game between these two teams. During the regular season, both teams won their two road games, and Milton continued the trend with a road win in game one. Although the Menace never beat the Panthers on home ice this season, they did have a 15-11-0-1 record at the Milton Memorial Arena. Pickering is no stranger to success on the road as they finished the season with a 18-9-0-0 record as the visiting team.

Friday’s puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 pm in Milton as the Menace look to extend their series lead to 2-0. If you can’t be in the stands for the game, it will be streamed live on Hockey TV.