(WOLFVILLE, NS) – Two streaks continued on Friday night, following a 2-1 overtime victory for the U SPORTS No. 1 ranked UNB REDS over the Acadia Axemen. For the REDS, the win marked their twelfth in a row. Meanwhile, the Acadia Axemen now hold a seven-game losing streak.
Brady Gilmour's (Grafton, ON) goal, late in the OT, was the winner.
Both teams benefitted from the excellent play of their goaltenders.
Axemen goalie Zachary Paputsakis (Rockland, ON) stopped 23 of 24 shots in the first two periods, before being replaced, due to injury, by Conor McCollum. UNB goalie Samuel Richard (Ste. Catherine, Que.) turned aside 25 of 26 shots.
Acadia jumped out to an early lead thanks to a goal from Keegan Stevenson (Aweres Township, ON). Stevenson redirected a point shot to put the Axemen up 1-0.
UNB had numerous scoring chances in the second period but solved Paputsakis only once to tie the game.
The REDS had two breakaways, both while shorthanded, near the midpoint of the second period. Both shots were turned aside, including one that required Paputsakis to sprawl at the goal line to keep the puck from going in.
UNB finally scored with 3:31 left in the second frame.
The REDS broke out of their zone quickly and rushed into the Acadia end where Cole MacKay (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) took a feed in the slot and wired a wrist shot to tie the game at 1-1.
Acadia made a goaltending change at the start of the third with McCollum taking over. Paputsakis seemed to be labouring with some sort of injury throughout the second period.
There was no scoring in the third period despite several strong attempts from both sides.
The extra period saw a number of solid scoring chances from both teams, but it was Gilmour who sent the crowd home. McCollum stopped the initial shot from a UNB rush but could not cover the puck. Gilmour scooped up the puck in front and flipped it over the Axemen goalie for the game-winner.
UNB defenceman Adam McCormick (Waterville, NB) was named Subway Player of the Game.
Acadia returns to action on Saturday, taking on Moncton, while the REDS head to Saint Mary's. Puck drops at 7:00pm for both games.
RECAP BY: Joshua Foote/for Acadia Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Garry Manning/for Acadia Athletics