Axemen top Tigers 4-2 in Halifax

(HALIFAX, N.S.) - In their first game of 2015, the Acadia Axemen defeated the host Dalhousie Tigers 4-2 at the Halifax Forum.

The Axemen were all over the Tigers in the first period, out-shooting them 16-5. But keeper Corbin Boes turned all 16 shots away, leaving the game tied 0-0 at the end of the first period.

Tigers forward Kendall MacInnis got his third goal of the season, with Andrew Langan and Alex Cote grabbing assists six minutes into the second period.

Midaway through the period, Axemen forward Michael Clarke finally got one past Boes, tying the game at one apiece. ]

With just 54 seconds left in the second, Brett Thompson set up Mike Cazzola on a breakaway giving the Axemen a 2-1 lead heading into the second intermission. The Axemen continued to outshoot the Tigers 11-9.

The third period saw both teams trade minor penalties, with the Axemen taking five trips to the box while the Tigers recorded four of their own, including two sets of incidentals.

Although the Axemen went 0-3 on the power play all game, they did manage to score a short-handed goal to get the scoring started in the third, thanks to forward Alex Beaton, who scored his fourth of the season.

The Tigers meanwhile were able to capitalize on one of their power play opportunities to close the gap to 3-2. Fabian Walsh scored his sixth of the season on a pass from Andrew Wigginton on a 5-3 with four minutes left in the game.

After pulling Boes, Boston Leier scored the empty-netter, securing the win for the Axemen. The Axemen out-shot the Tigers 45-21. Brandon Glover got his 10th win of the season for the Axemen, while Tigers keeper Corbin Boes made 42 saves.

With the win, the Axemen move into first place, one point ahead of UNB and two points in front of Saint Mary's in AUS standings, while the Tigers are currently in seventh.

Both teams are back in action Friday, Jan. 9 when Acadia hosts Saint Mary's and the StFX X-Men make the trip to Halifax to take on the Tigers.

Both games are 7 p.m. starts and will be webcast at www.AUStv.ca.

Source: Dalhousie Sports Information