Panthers take Game 1 of AUS quarter-final series

The visiting UPEI Panthers came out on the winning end of a close 4-3 game in Subway AUS men’s hockey quarter-final action Wednesday night at the StFX Keating Centre. Mike MacIsaac scored with 2:01 left in the game to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead in the best two-of-three series.

Game two is scheduled for Friday night in Charlottetown. The fourth seeded X-Men face a must-win situation against the fifth seeded Panthers in order to extend the series to a third and deciding game. The Panthers can close out a quarter-final victory on home ice.

Subway player of the game Matthew Brenton got the ball rolling early in the game for the Panthers as he beat StFX goaltender Joey Perricone five-hole 1:19 into the game. Alex Wall and Dana Fraser picked up assists.

The one-goal lead held through to the end of the first period as the Panthers outshot the X-Men 16-10.

StFX tied the game while on the power play at 2:21 of the second period. StFX defenseman Spencer McAvoy’s blast from the point found its way through traffic past Panthers netminder Wayne Savage. Michael Kirkpatrick and Josh Day assisted.

Brad Cuzner gave the X-Men their first lead of the game with a shorthanded goal, unassisted, at 9:12. His shot trickled in under the pads of Savage into the UPEI net. The advantage only lasted 16 seconds as the Panthers brought the puck back up ice and scored on the same power play. Jordan Mayer was the goal scorer, shooting in the puck after a scramble in front of the X net. Brenton and Matthew Maione picked up the helpers.

The second period closed with the teams still even at 2-2. UPEI again held the shot advantage in the second frame at 21-14.

The Panthers scored their second power play goal of the evening 48 seconds into the third period as StFX’s Jarrad Struthers was called for interference just 11 seconds in. Perricone made the initial save on goal but Travis MacIsaac was there to pounce on the rebound. Reggie Traccitto and Jordan Knox assisted on the goal, putting the Panthers up 3-2.

The X-Men had several good scoring chances in the third period, exerting pressure in the PEI zone but could not solve Savage. Knox almost gave the Panthers a two-goal edge on a breakaway attempt with under seven minutes to play but was stopped by Perricone.

Freshman forward Cole Grbavac gave the X-Men life when he connected for the game typing goal at 15:59. Grbavac scored unassisted from a sharp angle to the side of the Panthers net as the puck snuck in through the inside post. 

Just when it appeared the game was heading into overtime, Mike MacIsaac became the hero for the Panthers, sliding the puck in under Perricone’s glove and deflating the spirits of the hometown blue and white fans. Mason Wilgosh assisted on the goal that held on as the game winner as the X-Men could not score the tying marker in the final two minutes, despite pulling Perricone for the extra attack with 1:15 left to play.

UPEI closed out the game outshooting the X-Men 15-13 in the third period and 52-37 overall. Savage earned the win with 34 saves, while Perricone turned aside 48 pucks in the losing effort.

The closely matched teams will take to the ice Friday night in Charlottetown for Game two of their Subway AUS quarter-final series. Puck drops at 7:00 pm as the game will be webcast live on www.AUStv.ca.