PLAYOFF PREVIEW: Panthers seek playoff upset against high-powered Huskies

By Thomas Becker

The regular season didn't go as planned for the UPEI Panthers, but the playoffs offer a clean slate where anything can happen.

As the sixth seed, the Panthers—who finished with a 9-19-2 record—will look to shake off their struggles and pull off an upset against the third-seeded Saint Mary's Huskies in a best-of-three quarter-final series beginning tonight.

The Huskies enter the series after a strong 17-11-2 campaign, in which they controlled the season series against UPEI, winning four of five games. Led by MVP candidate Derek Gentile, who paced the conference with 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists), Saint Mary's boasts a high-powered offence that could pose problems for the Panthers. Nathan Dunkley, another key offensive weapon, finished eighth in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) scoring with 33 points (18 goals, 15 assists), while Ben Allison and Dennis Busby each contributed 31 points, good for 11th in the league.

UPEI will need to find a way to neutralize Gentile, who has torched them all season, recording six goals and three assists in their meetings. Bradey Johnson has also been a thorn in their side, scoring six goals in the series after going scoreless in the first two games. 

Offensively, the Panthers will rely on Kaleb Pearson and Ben McFarlane to lead the charge. Pearson, who ranked 11th in AUS scoring with 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists), was UPEI's top performer against Saint Mary's, netting six goals and two assists in their head-to-head matchups. McFarlane, the team's leading goal scorer with 17 (fourth in the AUS), found the back of the net in every game against the Huskies, making him a key offensive threat. Meanwhile, Kurtis Henry has been instrumental as a playmaker, tallying seven assists in the season series. If these three can continue their strong play, the Panthers have a chance to keep pace with Saint Mary's potent attack.

Goaltending will likely be the deciding factor in this series. Jakob Robillard is expected to get the nod for UPEI after posting a 3.44 goals-against average and an .874 save percentage. On the other side, Saint Mary's will likely turn to Justin Sumarah, who finished the season with a 3.23 GAA and an .893 save percentage. Both netminders have had their ups and downs, but the one who rises to the occasion under playoff pressure could tilt the series in their team's favour.

For UPEI to have a chance at the upset, they'll need a complete team effort—tight defensive play, disciplined hockey, and the ability to capitalize on scoring chances. If Robillard delivers a strong performance and the Panthers' offence can break through Saint Mary's defensive structure, they could turn this series into a battle.

Quarter-Final Schedule:

Game 1 – UPEI @ SMU | Feb. 19, 7 PM
Game 2 – SMU @ UPEI | Feb. 21, 7 PM
Game 3 (if necessary) – UPEI @ SMU | Feb. 23, 7 PM

Purchase playoff tickets today: https://upei.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=1541