Tigers blank UPEI 2-0

Written by Ryan Hyndman, Dalhousie Athletics

The Dalhousie Tigers blanked the UPEI Panthers 2-0 in AUS action on Friday night.

First chance came from Zac Beauregard (Repentigny, QC) for the Panthers, but was stopped by Alexander MacDonald (Truro, NS) in tight before the Tigers found themselves on an extended four-minute power play halfway through the period. Again MacDonald came up with two massive stops on the penalty kill stopping Drake Pilon (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) and Ian Smallwood (Quispamsis, NB) from UPEI. Best chance for Dalhousie came from Campbell Pickard (Halifax, NS) with a nice shot from the slot, but he was stopped by Jonah Capriotti (Charlottetown, PEI). The Panthers penalty kill came up big, killing both penalties, before being tested again with three minutes left in the period. Matt Green (Hammonds Plains, NS) for the Tigers started the man advantage with a chance in close, but Capriotti came up big again. To end the period, the Panthers kill would remain perfect and would have to go back to work to start the second period, surrendering another penalty as time expired on a scoreless first.

To start the second, the Tigers powerplay quickly came to an end as they took a penalty of their own, for some 4-on-4 action before a short Panthers powerplay. Neither team was able to capitalize. After both teams returned to even strength, the teams would go back and forth multiple times trying to break the 0-0 deadlock. With seven minutes remaining in the period, the Tigers would once again head to the man advantage with a chance to take the first lead of the game. The Panthers, however, remained perfect on the penalty kill, with Pilon once again creating a short-handed chance. The Tigers best chance of the period came off a shot from Cameron Thompson (Victoria, BC) that rang off the crossbar, but the game would remain scoreless headed to the third period.

Starting the third period on the powerplay, the Panthers would generate several good chances towards the Tigers net. UPEI generated several good shots from Kurtis Henry (Garden River First Nations, ON) on the powerplay, but MacDonald stood tall like he had all game. Finally, Dillon Boucher (Head Chezzetcook, NS), would find himself in on a breakaway, set up by Brett Crossley (Dartmouth, NS), and made no mistake scoring the first goal of the game with 12 minutes left. Evan McKinnon (Dartmouth, NS) just three minutes later extended Dalhousie lead to 2-0. The Panthers would get another opportunity on the power play to get back into the game with seven minutes to go. After that was unsuccessful, UPEI had one last chance to get on the board, and the Panthers pulled the goalie for a 6-on-4 scenario, but the Tigers kept it out and held on for a 2-0 victory.

Alexander MacDonald took home the Subway Player of the Game Award for his 34 save, shutout performance.

The Tigers improve to 6-18 on the season and are next in action on Friday when they host Moncton at the Halifax Forum.

The Panthers fall to 14-9 and are right back at it tomorrow when they continue their road trip to  STFX in Antigonish.