X-Men defeat Huskies 3-2 in overtime to advance to AUS Final

(HALIFAX, N.S.) The STFX X-Men are heading to the AUS final after defeating the Saint Mary’s Huskies 3-2 in overtime in game two of the best-of-three semi-final at the Dauphinee Centre on Sunday night. 

In Friday night’s game one, the Huskies played the X-Men tight for 65 minutes, before Matthew Philip scored the game-winning goal in overtime. The series shifted back to Halifax on Sunday night, with the home team needing a win to send the best-of-three series to a decisive third game. 

Saint Mary’s got off to an early start when Cedric Ralph (Peterborough, ON) fired a backhand shot that was saved by Raaymakers, but the rebound found the stick of defenceman Walter Flower III (Lunenburg, NS), who made no mistake, giving the Huskies a 1-0 lead just 4:06 into the first period. Ralph and Nathan Dunkley (Campbellford, ON) were credited with assists on the goal. 

A few minutes after the goal, some rough play occurred between the two Nova Scotian rivals. Huskies defenceman Caelan McPhee (Ancaster, ON) was called for a penalty for contact to the head, but before the play ended, X-Men forward Conner Bruggen-Cate retaliated with a big hit of his own. Offsetting penalties saw both players sent to the box for two minutes, plus an added 10-minute misconduct.  

Less than a minute later, the X-Men would get a powerplay when Huskies forward Logan DeNoble was whistled for cross-checking but the Huskies were able to kill it off, thanks to some great saves from goaltender Justin Sumarah (Halifax, NS). 

Sumarah continued his outstanding play throughout the period, saving all 19 shots he faced as the X-Men outshot the Huskies 21-6.  

Just over three minutes into the second period, the X-Men found an equalizer, as a harmless-looking shot was fired into a crowd in front of the Huskies net, where Josh Nelson was able to slide it past Sumarah for his first of the playoffs. William Thompson and Jacob Hudson were credited with assists on the goal, which tied the game at 1-1 3:02 into the second period. 

Midway through the period, the Huskies went on the powerplay and it looked like they had scored again when Justin MacPherson (Newmarket, ON) sniped a wrist shot past Raaymakers, but officials ruled the net was knocked off its moorings and the goal was overturned.  

A few minutes later the Huskies had a go-ahead-goal that did count. After Bradey Johnson (Lindsay, ON) had his initial shot turned away, the puck was cycled back to defenceman Dennis Busby, who found Johnson at the doorstep where he patiently waited for Raaymakers to react and then sniped it five-hole to give the home team a 2-1 lead. Johnson’s first of the playoffs was scored with 5:04 remaining in the period, and assisted by Busby and Joel Bishop (St. John’s, NL). 

Once again, Sumarah was outstanding in the second period, making 11 more saves, as the X-Men took a 33-14 shots on goal advantage into the third period.  

The third period saw each team have a powerplay early. Sumarah made several saves to help kill off a Ben Higgins holding penalty, and then the Huskies had their own powerplay opportunity when Matthew Struthers was sent to the box for interference. The Huskies had several great chances on the powerplay, as Dennis Busby fired a shot that missed by an inch, and Bradey Johnson was robbed by Raaymakers. On the ensuing counterattack, Sumarah made a great save on a Matthew Philip breakaway to keep the Huskies up 2-1. 

The X-Men would have their seventh powerplay opportunity of the night when Joel Bishop was sent to the box for hooking, and forward Zack Trott nearly scored, but hit the post. Moments later, the X-Men did equalize, as forward Matthew Struthers controlled the puck with a Huskies defender draped over his back, and lifted it past Sumarah to tie the game at 2-2 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the period. 

Just over two minutes later, the physical play ramped up again, as two Huskies and two X-Men were sent to the box for coincidental roughing penalties. Both teams had chances over the final eight minutes of the third period, but neither team was able to find the go-ahead goal, and for the second straight game, overtime would be needed. 

In a game where the Huskies were heavily outshot, that trend would continue in overtime, as the X-Men recorded six shots on goal to Saint Mary’s none. Sumarah was able to save the first five, but it was only a matter of time before the X-Men broke through, which is what happened when Matthew Struthers circled the Huskies zone and fired a wrist shot that beat a screened Sumarah to win the game. The goal, Struthers second of the game, was scored 5:32 into the overtime period, and Matthew Philip was credited with an assist, a night after scoring the overtime winner. 

The X-Men outshot the Huskies 52-19 in the game, with Sumarah making 49 saves, a performance which garnered him Subway Player of the Game recognition. Struthers was awarded Subway Player of the Game for the X-Men. 

With the win the X-Men advance to the 2022 Subway AUS Men's Hockey Championship final against the UNB REDS, which will be a single game, scheduled to be played Friday in Fredericton. 

Recap by Allan April / SMU Huskies Athletics