Second period surge lifts Aigles Bleus over Huskies

(HALIFAX, N.S.) - The Moncton Aigles Bleus (8-5-0) defeated the Saint Mary's Huskies (7-8-0) by a score of 5-3 Saturday night. In the second period, Moncton scored three goals in the span of five minutes to take a three-goal lead Saint Mary's would not be able to overcome. Saturday's game was the first for both teams after having a month-long layoff.

Moncton opened the scoring five minutes into the first period with the use of a strong forecheck cycle. From below the goal line, forward Alex Saulnier slipped a sneaky shot between the post and the pad of Huskies goaltender Anthony Peters.

With under two minutes to play in the period, Gerrad Grant answered back for the Huskies when he took a Ryan Hillier drop pass and ripped a wrist shot past Adrien Lemay to tie the game at one.Before the end of the frame, Peters had to make a strong save on a breakaway chance from Alex Noel.

The Aigles Bleus were dominant in the second period, outshooting the Huskies 17-8. Eight minutes into the period, Moncton regained their lead when defenceman Christopher Guay lasered a slap shot into the top right corner of the net.

Just over a minute later, Simon Jodoin slung a stretch pass to Allain Saulnier waiting at the Saint Mary's blue line. Saulnier beared down on Peters and ripped a wrist shot over his glove.

Moncton's offensive outburst was capped off by Maxime Pilon who extended his team's lead to three when he powered his way to the net and lifted a shot over Peters' blocker at point-blank range.

The Huskies kept the game in reach when they capitalized on a power play opportunity before the end of the second period. From down low, Steven Shipley scored when his centering pass was deflected past Lemay by a Moncton defenceman.

Halfway through the third period, Ryan Hillier intercepted a Moncton breakout pass and fired a wrist shot over Lemay's glove to bring the score to 4-3. However, that was as close as the Huskies could get as an empty net goal in the final minute stopped the comeback.

Saint Mary's welcomed a new forward to the team on Saturday. Stephen MacAulay picked up an assist in his debut for the Huskies. The 21-year-old Cole Harbour native is a St. Louis Blues draft pick from 2010 and won two Memorial Cups, one with Saint John and the other with Halifax.

Tomorrow at the Halifax Forum the Huskies will play the UNB Varsity Reds at 6 p.m. in a game that was rescheduled due to adverse weather on Friday. Moncton will face StFX tomorrow in Antigonish at 3 p.m.

Courtesy of: Brian Mosher, Saint Mary's Sports Information