Panthers score three unanswered goals in win over Huskies

HALIFAX, NS—Panthers forward Patrick LeBlanc scored the game-winning goal, leading UPEI to a 3-2 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies in Atlantic University Sport men's hockey action on Friday night at the Dauphinee Centre in Halifax.

In the early minutes of the first period, the Huskies went onto the powerplay. Their best scoring opportunity came from forward Declan McDonnell (Buffalo, NY) on a shot down low, but Panthers goaltender Jonah Capriotti (Charlottetown, PE) stood firm. 

A few minutes later, on a three-on-two opportunity, Huskies defenceman Caelan McPhee (Ancaster, ON) fired a shot from the slot, but Panthers netminder Capriotti made the save, keeping the game 0-0. 

Midway through the first period, Panthers forward Elias Cohen (Toronto, ON) springs onto a breakaway; with quick hands, he beats Huskies goaltender Jeremy Helvig (Kingston, ON) but hits the post, keeping the game tied.

At 6:30 left in the first period, the Huskies headed onto their second powerplay. On a point shot from Huskies defenceman Dennis Busby (Oro-Medonte, ON), Panthers goalie Capriotti made the initial save, but Huskies forward Jake Uberti (Toronto, ON) was down low to tap in the rebound, taking the lead for the Huskies 1-0. 

With under five minutes left in the first period, the Panthers headed onto a five-minute powerplay. With 1:30 left in the Panthers powerplay, Patrick LeBlanc (Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, NB) fired a shot from the faceoff circle that made it through Helvig, but the puck hit the post, keeping the game 1-0 for the Huskies. 

Moments later, the Huskies had a short-handed breakaway by forward Nathan Dunkley (Campbellford, ON), who fired a backhand shot, but Capriotti flashed the pad, making the save.

The Huskies outshot the Panthers 13-4 in the first period, and the teams went into the intermission with the Huskies leading 1-0.

Seconds into the second period, Huskies forward Reid Valade (Caledon, ON) skated end-to-end, putting a backhand shot top corner for a shorthanded goal, taking the lead 2-0 for the Huskies.

Moments after killing off their penalty, Elias Cohen made a slot pass to Noah Sedore (Sharon, ON), who put it in the back of the net, cutting the Huskies lead to one.

Ten seconds later, Panthers forward Michael Stubbs (Thunder Bay, ON) sent a pass to Landon Clow (Kelvin Grove, PE) in the slot, who tipped it into the Huskies net for his first goal of the season and tying the game 2-2.

As the period progressed, both teams traded opportunities, but both goaltenders stood firm, making big stops to keep the game tied 2-2.

In the final minutes of the second period, the Huskies headed onto the powerplay, looking for the opportunity to take back the lead.

Panthers goaltender Capriotti came up with key saves, keeping the game tied 2-2. The Huskies outscored the Panthers 26-9 as the teams headed into the intermission.

Seconds into the third period, Helvig came up with a big stop from Panthers forward Josh Currie (Pickering, ON) to keep the game tied 2-2.

Approaching the halfway mark of the third period, Huskies forward Ben Allison (Halifax, NS) had a great opportunity on a between-the-legs shot in the slot, but Capriotti made the save.

Moments later, on a breakaway opportunity, Huskies forward Ben Boyd (Dartmouth, NS) was denied by Capriotti by a diving poke check.

Halfway through the period, Panthers forward LeBlanc, on a breakaway opportunity after intercepting a pass, puts the puck top shelf to take the lead 3-2 for the Panthers.

The Panthers poured on the pressure in the second half of the period, which resulted in a powerplay opportunity. The Huskies were able to kill off their penalty successfully.

As tensions built in the dying minutes of the third period, and multiple penalties were taken in close succession, the teams headed onto three-on-three play. In the game's final moments, the Huskies pulled their goaltender in search of the tying goal, but the Panthers would hang on to win 3-2.

Panthers goaltender Jonah Capriotti was named Player of the Game, turning away 35 shots for the win, while Huskies goaltender Jeremy Helvig stopped 16 shots in the defeat. 

The Panthers win improves their record to 11-12-1-3 on the season. They'll be back on the road tomorrow night, visiting the Acadia Axemen (8-14-2-3) at 7 p.m. at the Andrew H. McCain Arena in Wolfville, N.S.

The Huskies loss drops their record to 14-13-1-0 on the season. They'll be back at home on next Friday night as they host the STFX X-Men (13-13-1-0) at 7 p.m. at the Dauphinee Centre.

RECAP COURTESY: SMU Huskies Athletics / PHOTOS BY: Mona Ghiz