Race for first place

UPEI Panthers entering showdown with UNB on a winning note

The UPEI Panthers have moved closer to first place in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Men’s Hockey Conference.

The Panthers registered a solid 4-1 home-ice victory over the Moncton Blue Eagles on Nov. 30 to improve to 12-4-0-1 (won-lost-overtime losses-shootout losses). UPEI is 7-0-0-1 in its last eight games and 11-1-0-1 since starting the regular season 1-3-0-0.

“I thought we had a good game,” Panthers forward and assistant captain TJ Shea told Saltwire Network in a post-game interview. “We were happy with the points we have been getting lately, but we felt we had another level. We thought we played a strong 60 minutes (against Moncton).”

The Panthers’ win opened a five-point lead over the thirdplace Blue Eagles (10-7-0-0) and sets the stage for a showdown with the conferenceleading UNB Reds (13-2-0-1) at Maclauchlan Arena on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. That game will mark the end of the first half for both teams.

UNB, the top-ranked team in this week’s U Sports national rankings, is also red hot with a 12-0-0-1 record in its last 13 contests and holds a two-point lead over UPEI. The Reds have an opportunity to widen that margin when they host Moncton on Dec. 2.

“It was a big game because it’s a four-point swing,” said Shea, who contributed a goal and two assists in the win over the Blue Eagles. “Moncton is right behind us, so it’s important for us to move forward and create a little separation. It’s a big one on Saturday.”

BIG LINE

Before 688 fans at Maclauchlan Arena, the Panthers held period leads of 2-0 and 3-1

“It was a big game because it’s a fourpoint swing. Moncton is right behind us, so it’s important for us to move forward and create a little separation. It’s a big (game) on Saturday.”

TJ Shea

while the line of Shea, Kyle Maksimovich (1-1) and Troy Lajeunesse (1-1) combined for seven points.

“They’ve really found chemistry and complement each other really well,” said Macpherson. “There is a lot of pieces to a line there, and they came through.”

Daylon Groulx also scored for the Panthers, who received assists from Matt Brassard (2), Kaleb Pearson and Carson Mackinnon.

Nathael Roy replied for Moncton.

Special teams played a big role as the Panthers went 2-for-4 on the power play and killed off all five Moncton man advantages.

“We were really happy with our effort,” said Macpherson. “That is a really good Moncton team that is coached very well. Obviously, they have been playing very well this year.

“We have had some success recently, but we feel that this has been as good of an effort as we have had in the last few games. We’ve managed to put points in the bank over the last couple of games, but we felt we played much better (against Moncton).”

Overall, the Panthers directed 32 shots at Blue Eagles goaltender Etienne Montpetit and limited just 21 shots, including only four in the third period, against Jonah Capriotti.

“There was a stretch in the first where I felt our D zone let us down a couple of times, but we got it back on track and Cappy made some big saves when we needed them,” said Macpherson. “In the third period, we really locked it down and didn’t give up really any Grade-a chances. It was a good way to finish out a third period against a good team.”

TEAM WIN

Macpherson called it a team win for the Panthers. When asked to identify any players who caught the coach’s eye and quietly made key contributions that do not show up in the stats, Macpherson mentioned Robert-tye (RT) Rice logging minutes on defence and forward Ryan Stepien.

“(Rice has) kind of been our Swiss Army knife this year,” said Macpherson. “We’ve been plucking him in different areas, and he seems to rise to the occasion, and the players rewarded him in our dressing room with the player of the game.

“I thought first-year player Ryan Stepien had a big game. He had a hat trick a few games ago, but I felt this was even a better game for him, more of a complete hockey game.”

Rice, who turned 28 in November and has played forward during most of his time with the Panthers, said he’s willing to play wherever and do whatever the team needs.

The six-foot-two and 220pound Rice, who turned 28 in November, joked that with age comes wisdom and he is focused on playing smart hockey.

“I’m getting up there and it’s my last year, so I’m going to make it a good one,” said Rice. “We have a lot of injuries on the back end, so I told Forbie he can put me back there.

“Obviously, I have the size and played a little bit of D growing up and always liked it. It’s feeling good back there.”