Tigers comeback falls short in 2-1 loss to UNB

By Troy Langstaff

The #1 nationally ranked UNB Reds snuck out a 2-1 victory over the Dalhousie Tigers on Saturday night at the Halifax forum. 

Dalhousie came into the game as underdogs and didn't help their cause, giving up a goal just 46 seconds into the game. Tyler Boland pounced on a rebound in close to give the visiting Reds the early lead.

UNB was the faster team but the Tigers managed to hold their own, almost tying the game on a few cross ice one timers that kept Reds goalie Ryland Parenteau on his toes.

The second half of the first period saw very little five on five action with a parade of players heading to the penalty boxes much to the dismay of both coaching staffs.

It was the visiting side's powerplay that took advantage of their man advantage time with Samuel Dove-McFalls firing a shot high glove side on Connor Hicks (Kanata, ON) to extend the lead to 2-0 before the end of the frame.

The Reds led 2-0 and in shots 17-7 after the first twenty minutes.

The penalty parade continued into the second period with each team generating good power play chances.

Both teams seemed to challenge the referees after almost every call resulting in multiple unsportsmanlike penalties being handed out.

After many broken sticks, multiple posts and one bloodied player the scoreless second period concluded with Parenteau and Hicks going save for save. 

At the second intermission UNB held the 2-0 lead and led in shots 31-12.

The Tigers came into the third and final frame with energy and almost got on the board with a few good chances. A tic tac toe play started by Connor Welsh (Halifax, NS) resulted in a nice sliding save by Parenteau on Dillon Boucher (Head Chezzetcook, NS). 

Things blew over at the six minute mark of the period when a large scrum resulted from a check to the head by Dalhousie's Campbell Pickard (Halifax, NS). Pickard was assessed a two minute minor plus a 10-minute misconduct for head contact. 

Not long after, a pair of 10-minute misconducts were handed out to Tigers Jarrett Baker (Black Rock, NS) and UNB's James Phelan.

The Reds almost extended their lead to three when their leading scorer Austen Keating found himself alone in the slot for a pair of close range chances both stopped by Hicks.

Dalhousie finally got on the board just over the midway mark of the period with a backhand shot from Logan Johnston (Fredericton, NB) that flew over the shoulder of Parenteau to bring the score to 2-1. 

The Tigers pulled Hicks for an extra attacker with 1:35 left and had a series of good chances but the Reds held on for the tight 2-1 victory.

There was a total of 80 penalty minutes handed out during the game and UNB had 43 shots to Dalhousie's 20.

The AUS SUBWAY Player of the Game was Tigers goalie Connor Hicks who made 41 saves.

UNB will be back at the Forum on Friday, Oct. 29th to face the Tigers again.