(CHARLOTTETOWN, PE) Something had to give. Both the UPEI Panthers and UNB REDS came into Friday night's game riding long win streaks, but it was the REDS who extended theirs, to six games, after defeating the Panthers 3-1.
Simon Pinard's (Drummondville, QC) goal, off a rebound, eight minutes into the third period was the difference in the game.
"We're just so happy right now," said Pinard, named Subway Player of the Game. "It was a tie game, and everybody was battling hard, and to get that goal in the end was a weight off our shoulders."
The game looked like it was going to be an offensive brawl after the two teams traded goals within the first 12 minutes, but the offence quickly dried up.
UNB struck first, at 6:12, when Adam McCormick (Waterville, NB) casually lobbed a shot toward the net that Austen Keating (Guelph, ON) redirected past goaltender Jonah Capriotti (Mount Hope, ON) for a power-play goal.
At 11:07, TJ Shea (Tignish, PE) skated along the boards and had one man to beat, but instead sent a cross-ice pass to a wide-open Kyle Maksimovich (Hamilton, ON), who took a couple strides and sent a laser past Samuel Richard (Ste. Catherine, QC) for the tying goal.
UNB had the Panthers on their heels for most of the second period, but the home team weathered the storm thanks to Capriotti, who made 14 saves in the frame.
UNB's defence was stifling throughout the contest and only improved as the game went on, holding the Panthers to just 16 shots, nine of which came in the final two periods.
"Guys were sacrificing their bodies tonight," Pinard said. "We knew they (UPEI) had some good shooters and that was something we focused on."
Pinard finally broke the deadlock at 7:56 of the third period when Michael Petizian (Mississauga, ON) centred a pass to Brady Gilmour (Grafton, ON), who got off a backhand shot while falling before the rookie skated in and put away the rebound.
Isaac Nurse (Hamilton, ON) then sealed the victory with a goal at 16:45.
On a two-on-two rush, Macauley Carson (Midhurst, ON) lost control of the puck which then ricocheted off a Panthers defender to Nurse, who fired a wrist shot past Capriotti.
The Panthers look to get back in the win column Saturday night when they travel to Moncton to take on the Aigles Bleus.
The REDS have an opportunity to rest before visiting the Acadia Axemen on Tuesday. That game was originally scheduled for October 14th, but was postponed after the REDS experienced transportation issues.
RECAP BY: Thomas Becker/UPEI Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Janessa Hogan/for UPEI Athletics