(CHARLOTTETOWN, PE) – UPEI scored 3 goals in the first seven minutes of the second period, which led to a big 4-2 win over UNB in their second last game of the regular season Friday night at MacLauchlan Arena in Charlottetown in front of 890 fans.
With the win, the Panthers improve to 12-13-2 on the season and clinch the fifth seed for the upcoming playoffs, while the Varsity Reds fall to 22-4-2 but have already clinched first position in the conference heading into the postseason.
UNB outshot UPEI in every period, but Mavric Parks (Eganville, ON) was solid in net for UPEI and the Panthers capitalized on the chances they did get to come out with the win.
In the first period, UNB outshot the Panthers 13-12. It was UPEI's Marcus Power (St. John's, NL) who scored the only goal of the period with just under four minutes remaining. Darcy Ashley (Brooklyn, PE) and Brent Andrews (Hunter River, PE) picked up the helpers on the goal.
The Panthers came out of the locker room firing to start the second. Chris Desousa (Mississauga, ON) scored 3:15 into the period with assists going to Tyler Brown (Detroit, MI) and Reggie Traccitto (Oakville, ON). The next goal came only 23 seconds later with Andrews putting the puck in the back of the net from Power and Ashley. UPEI scored again 6:52 into the period on the power play with a beautiful shot that came off passes from Brown and Power. Dylan Willick (Prince George, BC) scored with seven minutes remaining in the period to give UNB some hope heading into the third. Dana Fraser (Tatamagouche, NS) picked up the assist on the goal. Shots were 16-10 in favour of UNB in the period.
In the final frame, UNB outshot the Panthers 12-6 and had three power plays to UPEI's one, but could only come away with one goal. That goal came from Alex Wall (St. John's, NL) on the power play from Cam Braes (Shawnigan Lake, BC) and Philippe Maillet (Lachenaie, QC) with 11 minutes left in the game.
Parks stopped 39 of the 41 shots that UNB put on net while Chris Carrozzi (Ottawa, ON) stopped 24 of UPEI's 28 shots on goal in the loss.
Parks was named the Subway AUS player of the game.
UNB's next action will come in the first round of the playoffs while UPEI has their final regular season game Saturday at home against St. Thomas (2-21-4) at 7:00.
With files from Ryan Lloyd for UPEI Sports Information