Tigers drop 5-1 game to Reds

Game recap by: Kirk Jessome

(Halifax, NS) – To finish up their final homestand of the first half of the season, the Dalhousie Tigers hosted the UNB Reds at the Halifax Forum. After a tight two periods, the Reds broke out with four goals in the third to take a 5-1 win.

It didn't take long for the Reds to get a prime opportunity, gaining a 5-on-3 advantage just four minutes into the game. The Tigers penalty kill was strong early to force the possession to stay along the outside and killed off the first penalty.

Just as the second penalty was being completed, Jenna MacLean (Wilcox, SK) was able to make a great move on a shot fake to get around the Tigers defender and then send a hard shot under the blocker of Fabiana Petricca (Woodbridge, ON) to open the scoring.

The Tigers were able to get a few good shots towards Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC), but spent much of the period on the penalty kill, limiting offensive opportunities.

With the lone goal, the teams went into the break with the Reds leading 1-0.

The Reds opened the second period with a flurry of chances put towards Petricca, but the Tigers keeper was able to make some very tough stops to keep it a one-goal game.

After Petricca made another great stop, the Tigers broke out of their own zone going the other way with Natalie Stanwood (West Vancouver, BC) leading the way. Stanwood crossed the blue line along the side boards and made her way toward the goal line before sending a pass into the slot for Brooklyn Paisley (Shawinigan Lake, BC) who fired a hard shot low on the blocker side that found the back of the net to make it 1-1.

The goal seemed to spark the Tigers, with the group putting together stretches of offensive pressure in the attacking end, with a great chance coming off a shot from Taylor Joyce (Halifax, NS) that rang off the post and stayed out.

The Tigers carried much of the momentum heading into the third period with the score tied up at 1-1.

Once again, the Reds found themselves on a power play opportunity early in the period, and it didn't take long for them to capitalize with a go-ahead goal. In a nearly identical play as the first goal from the Reds, MacLean once again had the puck at the point and sent a hard slapshot through a crowd in front that Petricca never got an eye on.

MacLean's second of the game made it 2-1 for the Reds with just under 15:00 to go.

Special teams were on the side of the Reds in this one after taking multiple penalties in the third, they were able to solidify their lead with a short-handed goal. On a chip out their own zone, Tamina Kehler (Chilliwack, BC) was able to break into the Tigers zone all alone, make a great deke to force Petricca to bite, and easily walked around her to slide the puck into the net to make it 3-1.

Desperately needing a goal with five minutes to go, the Tigers decided to pull Petricca while on the power play to make it 6-on-4, but after losing the faceoff, it was just seconds before Hayley Halihan (Miramichi, NB) found the back of the empty net.

The Tigers tried one more time to pull the goaltender and get back in the game, but once again the Reds found the empty net with Sage McElroy-Scott (Morden, MB) scoring the goal this time.

And with that, the time ran out, and the Reds came away with the 5-1 win in this one.

Jenna MacLean earned herself the Subway Player of the Game title, picking up two goals, including the game winner in a strong performance.

The Tigers will finish up the first half of the season next Friday when they travel to face UPEI. The Reds will have two more before the break, hosting St. Thomas on Wednesday.