Panthers run out of lives in Buffalo

Eli Rivers scored three goals, including two on the power play, leading the Buffalo Regals past the Pelham Panthers 5-2 in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League action Wednesday night at Holiday Twin Rinks in Cheektowaga, N.Y.

Cameron Clark and Hunter Litman, on the power play, also found the back of the net as Buffalo (6-16-2-2) won for the second time in three games and extend a streak of earning at least a point to three games.

Wyatt Thole, power play, and Jack Merkosky scored for Pelham (8-15-0-2) which lost its third in a row.

Shots on net were 39-34 in favour of the Regals, who finished the game 3-for-8 on the power play and limited the Panthers to one goal in five opportunities with a man advantage.

Buffalo, which defeated Pelham for the first time after starting head-to-head play with two losses, moved to within two points of the Panthers for sixth place in the junior-B league’s Golden Horseshoe Conference. Pelham has a game in hand.

Thursday night’s schedule had the third-place Niagara Falls Canucks (16-6-2-1) visiting the fifth-place Thorold Blackhawks (14-9-2-1).

That season series is tied at one win apiece.

Two games are on the go Friday: Buffalo at Niagara Falls, Welland, eighth, 4-18-3; at St. Catharines Falcons, second, 176-2.

St. Catharines’ four-game win streak is the longest in the conference, as is its point streak, seven games.

Pelham resumes league play Sunday when it hosts the Falcons in a rare night game.