SYDNEY, N.S. — Christian Jackson led the Glace Bay Panthers with a pair of goals in a 5-2 win over the Memorial Marauders in the opening game of their Cape Breton High School Hockey League playoff series, Tuesday.

Connor McIntyre, James Hayes and team captain Cameron Yates also struck for the second-place Panthers in front of about 200 fans at the Canada Games Complex. Trenton Gove finished with three assists, while Yates also chipped in two helpers.

Evan Hiscock scored both goals for the third-place Marauders. Hiscock scored short-handed with only 59 seconds left in the first period to open the scoring, but the Panthers replied with three goals in the middle stanza.

In goal, Nick Bigley turned aside 18 shots for the win, while Spencer Shebib deflected 32 pucks sent his way in the loss.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be played Thursday at the Emera Centre Northside in North Sydney starting at 7:10 p.m. The series winner will play the first-place Riverview Redmen for the league championship.

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