Panthers grab valuable point, move into playoff spot after 2-1 overtime loss to X-Women

By Reegan MacAulay

While losing in overtime wasn't the result the UPEI Panthers (11-10-3-2) wanted, they still gained a valuable point in their push toward the playoffs after a 2-1 overtime loss against the league-leading St. Francis Xavier University X-Women (18-3-1-3) on Friday night at the MacLauchlan Arena.

Coming off two promising victories, one a come-from-behind win on the road against StFX, the Panthers once again proved they can compete against the best and deserve a shot at playoff contention, putting forth a strong effort with multiple dangerous chances and counting on a phenomenal goaltending effort by Erin Cabaday. Although two points would've provided a better cushion in the standings, the extra point proved important regardless as the SMU Huskies lost to St. Thomas on the same night, thus leapfrogging the Panthers into the sixth and final playoff spot by one point – for now.

The game was intense and feisty right off the hop, with the first period showing similarities to what occurred between the two teams last week in Antigonish, N.S. Things remained scoreless for 35 minutes in a wild duel of defense and goaltending from each side; in the first period alone, there were five penalties. It took until 15:01 in period two for a team to break through on the scoresheet, with StFX's Claire Carruthers forcing a turnover in the Panthers zone, sprinting up the ice, deking around a defender and burying a low far-side shot past Cabaday.

The X-Women appeared to have the momentum heading into the third period despite having just three shots in period two alone compared to UPEI's seven. However, the Panthers returned from the dressing room with speed and vengeance, forcing a slashing penalty against StFX at 0:18. They took full advantage as Sophie Bujold buried a rebound off a shot from the point by Anjali Simms to tie the game at 2:08, recording her second goal of the season and first since Jan. 17.

Each team swapped chances back and forth for the remainder of the period, with Cabaday and X-Women goaltender Bianca Zak making enough key saves to force an extra frame. UPEI held offensive control to begin overtime but that shifted when they were called for hooking at 0:45. On the ensuing penalty kill, Cabaday came in clutch once more with multiple glove saves. Unfortunately, one minute after the penalty was killed off, StFX's Ireland McCloskey pulled off a highlight-reel play, skating zone-to-zone, toe-dragging a Panthers defender in the high slot and sneaking a backhand shot underneath Cabaday to win the game for the X-Women 2-1.

Cabaday was named the Panthers Player of the Game after denying 28 of 30 shots in her eighth start of the season; although her record dropped to 3-3-1-1, she holds a stellar 1.94 GAA and .910 save percentage. Zak was named the X-Women Player of the Game after stopping 25 of 26 shots in her 14th start of the season, which improved her record to 11-1-0-2.

The Panthers went 1-for-4 on the power play while the X-Women went 0-for-4.

While StFX pulled further ahead of UNB for the top spot in the conference, now separated by four points, UPEI enters their most important stretch of the season next week with two crucial, "do or die" games that will decide their fate; take note that they have two games left in the regular season compared to SMU's three. The Panthers will head on the road to Sackville, N.B. next Wednesday, Feb. 12 to take on the last-place, 1-22-0-1 Mount Allison Mounties and then return home for one final game at the Mac on Saturday, Feb. 15 against the third-place, 15-7-2-1 STU Tommies.

Photo Credit: Janessa Vanden Broek