Hockey Panthers get another win

UPEI men’s team continues to rack up wins

The UPEI Panthers earned three of a possible four points in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Men’s Hockey Conference over the weekend.

After dropping a 5-4 road decision in a shootout to the St. Francis Xavier X-men on Nov. 25, the Panthers bounced back on home ice to double the Dalhousie Tigers 6-3 on Nov. 26.

The Panthers, in second place at 11-4-0-1 (won-lostovertime losses-shootout losses), close out the first-half schedule with home games against the third-place Moncton Blue Eagles (10-6-0-0) on Nov. 30 and the first-place UNB Reds (13-2-0-1) on Dec. 3. Both games are 7 p.m. starts at Maclauchlan Arena.

Since starting the regular season 1-3-0-0, the Forbie Macpherson-coached Panthers have gone 10-1-0-1 in the last 12 games, including 6-0-0-1 in the last seven.

PANTHERS 6 TIGERS 3

At Maclauchlan Arena, the Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the opening period and took a 5-3 cushion into the second intermission.

Kyle Maksimovich led the Panthers with two goals and an assist. Drake Pilon (1-1), Troy Lajeunesse (1-1), Dani Antropov and Leon Denny also found the back of the net. TJ Shea (3), Darian Pilon (2), Logan Kelly-murphy and Ian Smallwood contributed assists.

Christian Huntley (1-2), Dillon Boucher (1-1) and Evan Mackinnon countered for the Tigers (1-14-0-1). Campbell Pickard added a pair of helpers.

Winning goaltender Lucas Fitzpatrick made 20 saves while Alexander Macdonald finished with 28 stops for the Tigers. Overall, UPEI outshot Dalhousie 33-23.

X-MEN 5 PANTHERS 4 (SO)

Before 804 fans in Antigonish, N.S., Matthew Struthers scored the only goal of the opening three-round shootout to lift the X-men to the victory.

Struthers (1-1), Zach Trott, Connor Roberts and Patrick Kyte scored in regulation time for the X-men (8-8-00). Liam Hawel added three assists.

Maksimovich (1-1), Lajeunesse (1-1), Shea and Drake Pilon answered for the Panthers, who received a pair of helpers from Matt Brassard.

The Panthers led 2-0 after one period of play, and the teams were tied 3-3 following 40 minutes.

Lucas Pfel stopped 14 of 15 shots for the X-men to record the goaltending win in relief of Joseph Raaymakers, who gave up three goals on 13 shots in 27:44 of action. Jonah Capriotti stopped 30 of 34 shots during regulation and overtime for the Panthers.