Sparling lifts X-Men to 3-2 OT win and 2-0 series sweep over Panthers

First year forward Ryan Sparling knocked in a loose puck in front of the UPEI net 12:14 into double overtime to lift the X-Men to a 3-2 win in Game 2 of the AUS quarterfinal series as X wins in two games straight over the Panthers.

Sparling’s game winner sent the StFX hometown crowd of over 1600 into a frenzy as the X-Men earned their second consecutive 3-2 win after winning Game 1 in regulation time in Charlottetown Wednesday night. They will await the result of the other AUS quarterfinal series between No. 3 Saint Mary’s and No. 6 Moncton to determine whether their semi-final opponent will be No. 1 UNB or No. 2 Acadia. Saint Mary’s defeated Moncton 2-1 in double overtime to take a 1-0 series lead.

The X-Men opened the game with a 2-0 lead over the visiting Panthers. Brett Robertson banged in a rebound up high to beat Panthers goaltender Wayne Savage on the power play 8:54 into the first period to score their first goal. Kevin Undershute and Nick Pageau assisted on the play.

Bryce Swan sniped the second goal of the evening, as a long rebound found his stick and he made no mistake, beating Savage off a shot from the faceoff dot. Phil Mangan and Brett Morrison were in on the assists. Panthers head coach Forbes MacPherson pulled Savage for just over a minute of play to calm his netminder down.

Brandon Biggers got the Panthers on the board with just 30 seconds left in the first period as scored just after a UPEI power play opportunity had expired.  Matthew Carter and Zach McCullough assisted.

The teams nearly played through a scoreless second period, until Cory Vitarelli popped in a power play goal for UPEI with 35 seconds left on the clock. The puck took a weird bounce off the boards from behind the StFX net and went right to the stick of Vitarelli who fired it into an open net past X-Men goaltender Bryan Gillis. Thomas Stryncl and Chad Locke earned assists on the play. The X-Men outshot the Panthers by an 11-4 margin in the second period of play.

The X-Men had a few good scoring opportunities in the third period as Chris Hulit almost made good on a shorthanded chance, then Bryce Swan was denied by Savage after a Brett Morrison 2-on-1 pass. Matthew Bragg also had a good chance in close with six minutes left in the game but Savage held his ground for the Panthers.

UPEI had a chance to put the game away as they were awarded a four minute power play opportunity with 5:26 left in the period after StFX defenseman took consecutive cross checking penalties. The Panthers had a couple of power play shots on net and thought they had scored the go-ahead goal with 3:45 left to play, however the goal was waved off after the men in stripes conferred and determined there was contact made to the puck from above the shoulder. The X-Men killed the remainder of the power play and neither team managed a goal at the end of 60 minutes of play.

The X-Men outshot the Panthers 30-13 at the end of regulation and the ensuing 10 minute overtime did not solve anything. Each team exchanging scoring chances throughout the first four minutes of the OT period and though the X-Men were pressuring in the final minutes, Savage continued his strong play between the Panthers pipes, making some key saves. Michael MacIsaac had the best chance for UPEI, firing a puck from the open slot, but it was Gillis’ turn for a big save for X.

Gillis maintained his focus in the second overtime frame and robbed Cory Vitarelli whose quick shot was gloved up high by Gillis. Ryan Sparling had a chance to put it away early in the OT period for StFX but was stopped by Savage, who also came up big against a Brett Robertson shot. Sparling had another chance to seal the deal with an open net and couldn’t pull the trigger. His persistence eventually paid off, however as he tucked a loose puck behind Savage for the series winner with 7:46 left to play in the second extra period.

Ryan Sparling earned the games’ first star honors while UPEI goaltender Wayne Savage was the second star and Bryan Gillis was the third star in a game that saw both goaltenders come up with some big saves for their respective teams. Savage had 36 saves in the Panthers net as StFX outshot UPEI 40-20.

With the 2-0 series sweep, the X-Men will have some time to rest as they await the result of the Moncton-Saint Mary’s quarterfinal series and the semi-final round set to begin Feb. 24th or 25th. The lower seed advancing out of the quarterfinals will meet the No. 1 seeded UNB Varsity Reds, while the higher seed will face the No. 2 Acadia Axemen. The AUS semi-final playoff schedule will be released on Monday, Feb. 22nd. Tickets for the first X-Men home playoff game will go on sale Monday at 1:00 pm.        

StFX Sports Information