(CHARLOTTETOWN, PE) The UNB Varsity Reds completed a perfect second half of the season, Friday night.
The Varsity Reds won their 13th of 13 second half games… and their 14th straight, against AUS competition, beating the UPEI Panthers 4-1.
The Panthers scored a second period goal, eating into a 3-0 UNB lead, but the VReds' defence came up big, killing six penalties, including a two-man UPEI advantage, to end any threat of a comeback.
"We did have some momentum there, we just weren't able to capitalize on that power play," said Panthers head coach Forbes MacPherson.
The game marked the end of the regular season for both teams.
"The season's over and we're in the playoffs. That's the bottom line," said MacPherson.
The Varsity Reds have earned a first-round bye, while the Panthers now turn their attention to a first-round matchup against Acadia.
UNB's top-ranked offence jumped on the Panthers early.
At 6:16 of the first period, Matt Petgrave found Francis Beauvillier in the crease for the easy chip in, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.
A short time later, Etienne Marcoux shut down two UPEI scoring opportunities.
With less than five minutes remaining in the first, Cam Braes notched his seventh goal of the season, doubling their lead 2-0.
Braes would do it again in the opening minutes of the second, giving UNB a comfortable 3-0 lead.
The Panthers' Nick Parker cut the deficit to 3-1, scoring off a rebound, after Ryan MacKinnon rushed the net.
But that's as close as the Panthers would get, as UNB's Alex Wall scored an empty-net goal, sealing the 4-1 win.
The Varsity Reds could open their second round AUS playoff series as early as February 25th. Their opponent in that round, obviously, has yet to be determined.
WITH FILES FROM UPEI ATHLETICS
PHOTO CREDIT: THOMAS BECKER