(HALIFAX, N.S.) - The Saint Mary's Huskies finally figured out how to put away the UNB Varsity Reds, and they chose the perfect time.
After losing all four matchups against the V-Reds in the regular season, the Huskies eliminated the V-Reds in Game 4 of a best 3-of-5 series at the Halifax Forum.
What proved to be a tight-checking affair was determined by a single goal from the stick of Stephen Gillard early in the final period giving the Huskies a 1-0 victory and a chance at the AUS title.
At 4:07 of the third, Gillard's seeing-eye point shot found its way past goaltender Joel Vienneau. On the play, the V-Reds failed to the clear their own zone enabling Lucas Bloodoff to take the puck down low and around the net where he fed a wide-open Gillard at the blueline.
That goal was all the Huskies would need as Anthony Peters backstopped his team to a shutout. Peters stopped all 30 shots he faced while Vienneau made 28 saves. The Huskies netminder was excellent in the series as he shut down the most potent offence in the AUS.
The Huskies maintained their lead until the finish but not without several tense moments. Directly after the goal, Saint Mary's gave the V-Reds opportunities to tie the game as they took two consecutive penalties. The Saint Mary's penalty killers were up to the task, however, and Peters capped off the first kill with a spectacular sliding pad save on a hard one-timer from the stick of Matt Petgrave.
UNB did their best to tie the game before time expired but an untimely checking-from-behind penalty by captain Chris Culligan at 18:13 meant they would be shorthanded for the remainder of the game.
At 19:09, Lucas Bloodoff was granted a penalty shot when he was hauled down on a breakaway. With only himself and Vienneau on the ice, Bloodoff came down and deked to his forehand but a sprawling pad save by Vienneau kept the V-Reds within striking distance.
Down a man, the V-Reds were unable to garner any pressure in the Huskies end and could not tie the game and they were ousted from the playoffs.
The Huskies will now face the Acadia Axemen in a best 3-of-5 final series.
Source: Brian Mosher for Saint Mary's Sports Information