Panthers come from behind to beat Aigles Bleus 3-1

(CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I.) - UPEI scored three straight goals to come back and top Moncton 3-1 in a Wednesday night matchup at MacLauchlan Arena in Charlottetown in front of 893 fans.

With the win, the Panthers improve to 9-8-2 on the season and sit in fifth place in the AUS, while Moncton falls to 7-10-2 and sit in sixth position in the conference.

Moncton's offence was rolling in the first two periods totaling 26 shots by the end of the second.

Mavric Parks (Eganville, Ont.) was solid in UPEI's net and turned away all but one to keep UPEI in the game. In the third, the Panthers found an extra gear, scoring two goals in the first four minutes of the period to seal the 3-1 victory.

In the first period, Moncton scored first on a goal by Jean-François Plante (Sherbrooke, Que.) 13:56 in on the power play. Assists went to Pierre Durepos (Shediac, N.B.) and Allain Saulnier (Cap-Pelé, N.B.) on the goal.

UPEI replied with less than a minute left in the period on a goal by Chris Desousa (Mississauga, Ont.). Matthew Brenton (Stewiacke, N.S.) and Reggie Traccitto (Oakville, Ont.) picked up assists on the equalizer. Shots were 13-7 for Moncton in the first period.

In the second, both Mavric Parks for UPEI and Brandon Thibeau (Riverview, N.B.) for Moncton were solid in the net stopping all shots in the period. The Aigles Bleus outshot UPEI 13-7 again in the second.

The Panthers came out of the locker room firing to start the third period. Desousa scored his second of the game off a faceoff win by Brenton only 1:31 into the period.

Then, just over two minutes later, Travis McIsaac (Uigg, P.E.I.) put in the Panthers' third goal of the game from Traccitto and Brent Andrews (Hunter River, P.E.I.). UPEI outshot Moncton 15-9 in the final period.

Parks was key in UPEI's victory, stopping 34 of the 35 shots he faced, while Brandon Thibeau stopped 26 of the Panthers' 29 shots on net.

Parks was named the Subway player of the game.

UPEI is on the road this weekend, visiting Dalhousie (5-13-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. and CIS No. 3-ranked Acadia (14-4-1) on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Moncton is at home this weekend to face CIS No. 6-ranked Saint Mary's (13-5-1) on Friday and StFX (12-6-1) on Saturday. Both games are at 7 p.m.
 

Source: Ryan Lloyd for UPEI Sports Communications