(CHARLOTTETOWN, PE) The UNB Reds took sole possession of first place on Tuesday night, beating the UPEI Panthers 3-1.
Mark Rassell (Calgary, AB), Kris Bennett (Brampton, ON) and Matthew Boucher (Los Angeles, Calif.) each scored goals. Rassell also added an assist for a two-point night and the Subway Player of the Game nod, while Tristan Pomerleau (Riviere-du-Loup, QC) had two assists.
After scoring 11 goals against the Panthers just five days earlier, the Reds were at it again early in the first period. At 2:09, Pomerleau's shot from the point went off Simon Hofley's (Ottawa, ON) left pad to Rassell, who tapped home the rebound for the 1-0 lead.
UPEI would surrender another goal mid-way through the period when Brady Gilmour (Grafton, ON) centered a pass from behind the net to Bennett, who tucked it away from in close.
That could've spelled trouble for the Panthers, but they weren't going to let this game get out of hand like they did on Friday. The home team fought toe-to-toe with their opponent in a scoreless second period, thanks in large part to their penalty kill and the play of Hofley.
Hofley made 31 saves, while his Reds counterpart, Rylan Parenteau (Saskatoon, SK) turned aside 24 in the victory.
The Panthers cut the deficit four minutes into the third when Filip Rydstrom (Stockholm, Swe.) wired a shot from the right circle past Parenteau's left shoulder, a beautiful power-play goal. Boucher then ended any thought of a comeback, scoring his 14th of the season at 9:27. The forward punched it in after Alex Goulet's (Disraeli, QC) shot from the point was left on the doorstep begging to be put in, as UNB took care of business 3-1.
Tuesday's game was originally scheduled for November 16th, 2019, but was postponed when bus travel across the Confederation Bridge was suspended.
UPEI looks to get back on track Friday night when they travel to Halifax to take on the Dalhousie Tigers.
The Reds will be home to face the Acadia Axemen. Game time is 7:00pm.
RECAP BY: Thomas Becker/for UPEI Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Janessa Hogan/for UPEI Athletics