Panthers score three in the third in opening day victory
The University of Prince Edward Island Panthers scored three times in the third period, including a shorthanded goal, to erase a 2-1 deficit and earn a 4-2 win over the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus Wednesday night at the J.-Louis-Lévesque Arena in the opening game of the 2023-2024 Atlantic University Sport men's hockey season in front of more than 700 spectators.
MONCTON, NB—The University of Prince Edward Island Panthers scored three times in the third period, including a shorthanded goal, to erase a 2-1 deficit and earn a 4-2 win over the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus Wednesday night at the J.-Louis-Lévesque Arena in the opening game of the 2023-2024 Atlantic University Sport men's hockey season in front of more than 700 spectators.
Jacob Dion (unassisted) gave the home team a 1-0 lead in the first period. Daylon Groulx (Leon Denny) tied the game midway through the second. Thomas Cusson (Olivier-Luc Haché, Edouard St-Laurent) came back quickly to restore his team's lead 10 seconds later.
Keiran Gallant (Kurtis Henry) at 11:02 of the third allowed the visitors to tie the game and give his team hope. The Aigles Bleus had a power play a minute later and Ben McFarlane (Cameron Morton) shorthanded took advantage of a moment of inattention on the part of the Aigles Bleus to give his team a 3-2 lead at 13:16. Kurtis Henry scored the insurance goal into an empty net at 18:55.
Jonah Capriotti made 23 saves for the win in net and Olivier Adam had 26 in the loss. The Panthers were 1-for-1 on the power play and the Aigles Bleus were 0-for-2. Henry, Dion, and Capriotti were the three stars of the game that produced fast-paced play and several attacks that required saves from both goaltenders.
Moncton will play the University of New Brunswick Reds on Friday night in Fredericton. UPEI will host UNB Saturday at 7 p.m.
RECAP/PHOTOS COURTESY: Normand A. Léger, UdeM Sports Information
