X-Men pick up second weekend victory with 4-1 win over Panthers

(ANTIGONISH, N.S.) - Third-year StFX forward Jarrad Struthers scored two goals for the second consecutive night to help the X-Men to a 4-1 win over the CIS No. 6-ranked UPEI Panthers Saturday evening in AUS men's hockey action at the StFX Keating Centre.

Struthers capped off a five point weekend as the X-Men picked up two wins to improve to 5-4-0.

The Subway Player of the Game scored the first goal of the evening 3:47 into the opening period, one timing a Steven Kuhn pass to beat UPEI goaltender Wayne Savage. R.D. Chisholm also picked up a helper on the play.

Reginaldo Traccitto tied the game for the Panthers (16:14) while on a two-man advantage. Chris Desousa and Dana Fraser assisted. 

The 1-1 score held through the opening 20 minutes as the X-Men outshot the Panthers 24-10.

Struthers tallied his second goal of the night at the 5:54 mark of the second period. After it looked like Savage had the puck secure underneath him after an X-Men goal crease flurry, Struthers was able to push it across and give the X-Men back their one-goal advantage.

Linemate Zack MacQueen did the grind work leading up to the goal with a pair of shots on net as he assisted, along with Chisholm - his second point of the evening.  

The physical game featured several big hits and intense emotions from both sides.

UPEI were unable to take advantage of a 5-on-3 power play for 50 seconds in the second period.

X-Men defenceman Nathan Chiarlitti sprung out of the box at the end of the 5-on-3 with a breakaway chance but was stopped by Savage.

On the next play, Jason Bast won the faceoff in the Panthers zone and fed a quick pass to MacQueen who popped the puck in the UPEI net, converting a shorthanded goal (15:06) to give the X-Men a 3-1 lead.

StFX's fourth goal was scored by Rob Slaney (unassisted) with 2:34 left in the game. He broke in alone down the left side and ripped a low shot, beating Savage on the far side.

The X-Men outshot the Panthers by a 43-29 margin.

Owsley picked up his fifth win of the season for StFX, making 28 saves.

Next on the AUS schedule for the third place X-Men is a game against the second place and CIS No. 5-ranked Acadia Axemen (8-1-0) on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

Source: StFX Sports Information