X-Men win 3-2 in OT over visiting Panthers
Brad Cuzner scored the overtime winner as the CIS No. 7 ranked StFX X-Men skated to a 3-2 win over the visiting UPEI Panthers Friday night at the Keating Centre in Antigonish.
On a great individual effort, the first-year player took control of the puck along the boards in the offensive zone, skated across ice inside the blue line before roofing a slap shot from the top of the faceoff circle over the shoulder of Panthers’ goaltender Mavric Parks.
The 4-on-4 unassisted goal came at 2:44 of the extra session.
The visiting Panthers, ranked ninth in the CIS, forced overtime with 7.7 seconds remaining in the third period when Mike MacIsaac beat X-Men goaltender Joey Perricone off a goal mouth scramble. Jordan Knox and Mason Wilgosh recorded assists.
With less than two minutes remaining in regulation, X-Men forward Jason Bast had an opportunity for an insurance marker when he broke in alone, but he could not beat Parks low to the stick side.
At 12:22 of the first period, Chris Desousa opened the scoring for the Panthers, on assists from Knox and Harrison McIver.
The X-Men tied it 1-1 with 1:12 remaining in the second period when Michael Kirkpatrick beat Parks with a top shelf slap shot. Bast set up his line-mate with a nifty backhand pass after streaking by a Panthers’ defenseman down the right wing. Brennen Wray recorded the other X-Men assist on the play.
The X-Men took a 2-1 lead at 3:48 of the third period when Cory MacIntosh, parked at the top of the Panthers’ goal crease, deflected a Zackary MacQueen shot from along the boards behind Parks. Antigonish native R.D. Chisholm had the other assist.
The X-Men outshot the Panthers 35-32 in the fast paced, back-and-forth battle.
First star and Subway player of the game Perricone, made 30 saves for the win, while Parks, who earned a third star selection, stopped 32 shots from the X-Men.
Cuzner, with the game winner, got the nod as second star.
With the win, the blue and white improve to 3-0, while the Panthers fall to 2-1.
The X-Men return to action Saturday night when they host the CIS No. 2 ranked UNB Varsity Reds. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. at the Keating Centre.