Boucher scores two in Tigers win over STFX

Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics

Antigonish, NS - The Dalhousie Tigers made it two wins in a row with a 4-3 victory over the STFX X Men at the Charles V Keating Centre on Wednesday night. It was the first win against the X-Men this season for the Tigers, who snapped STFX's three game win streak.

It was a quick first period, with both teams buzzing early. Zack Trott (Mulmur, ON) put X on the board in the sixth minute, firing a puck from behind the Dalhousie net that found its way into the back of the net.

While the STFX defence prevented any shots in the first 10 minutes, the Tigers picked it up in the last half of the period and were rewarded. In the thirteenth minute, Tigers captain Dillon Boucher (Head Chezzetcook, NS) tipped home a shot from Jackson van der Leest (Kelona, BC) on the powerplay, drawing the game even. 

Shots at the end of the first were 12-5 in favour of the X-Men as the teams remained knotted at 1-1.

The fast-paced play continued in the second period, with both teams earning scoring chances.

The Tigers were first on the board in the second with seven minutes gone, with Matt Green (Hammonds Plains, NS) knocking home a rebound after STFX goalie Joseph Raaymakers (Mulmur, ON) made the initial save but the puck was sitting just along the goal line for him to tap in. Evan MacKinnon (Dartmouth, NS) and Campbell Pickard (Halifax, NS) had the helpers. 

STFX replied five minutes later on the powerplay, with Connor Roberts (Owen Sound, ON)  tipping home a point shot by Adam Holwell (St. John's, NL), with Jacob Hudson (Antigonish, NS) getting the other assist.

The back-and-forth play continued for the rest of the period, and X finished the first 40 minutes leading in shots 26-14.

The 2-2 tie was broken when Boucher put the Tigers out front with just over a minute gone in the third, wiring a shot off a bounce from the boards. Jameson Murray (Kelona, BC) and Josh Wainman (Peterborough, ON) had the helpers.

The Tigers went up by two on another powerplay goal with seven minutes left to play. Jarrett Baker (Black Rock, NS) fired a low wrist shot off a rush, with MacKinnon getting the helper.

STFX continued to pepper Tigers' goalie Connor Hicks (Kanata, ON) with shots, and after pulling their goalie with 2:45 left to play, X-Men defender Patrick Kyte (Pembroke, ON) found the back of the net off a point shot with 42 seconds to go. Trott and Hudson assisted.

However, the X-Men weren't able to find another goal, and the game ended 4-3 in favour of the visiting Tigers. Final shots were 40-20 for STFX.

Hicks, who was named Subway Player of the game, made 37 saves in the win, while Raaymakers had 16 stops in the loss. Boucher earned the third star with his two goals and STFX's Ethan Crossman (Sackville, NB) was named second star.

The X-Men are back in action on Saturday night when they host UPEI at the Keating Centre. The Tigers will also host the Panthers this weekend, but on Friday night.