Panthers undone in second period, fall 3-1 to Moncton

By Thomas Becker

The UPEI Panthers' search for their first win of the season continues, as a dominant second period by the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus handed them a 3-1 defeat Wednesday night.

In a game where the Panthers (0-3) typically control the second period, the Aigles Bleus (3-0) flipped the script, scoring all three goals in the middle frame to secure the win. 

The game opened with a defensive battle in the first period, as both teams were tightly matched. The Panthers came close to breaking the deadlock seven and a half minutes in when Josh Currie spotted Landon Clow ahead of the Moncton defence and sent a crisp pass his way. Clow's redirect attempt, however, deflected off the post, keeping the game scoreless.

In the dying moments of the first period, Patrick LeBlanc made a clever play, chipping the puck ahead to Kurtis Henry. Henry took the puck from centre ice, weaved past a defender, and fired a wrist shot past goaltender Olivier Adam, giving UPEI a 1-0 lead with a second to spare.

However, the second period told a different story. Despite UPEI's second-period success this season, Moncton quickly evened the score just 42 seconds into the frame. Thomas Pelletier fired a puck on net, which deflected in front of the goal, where Charles Edouard Drouin pulled the puck to his forehand and slung a shot past netminder Joe Ranger.

Four minutes later, Moncton struck again. David Doucet split the defence with a cross-ice pass to Yannic Bastarache, whose redirect was stopped by Ranger. However, the puck leaked out in front, allowing Antoine Roy to bury the rebound to pull his team ahead 2-1.

The Aigles Bleus doubled their advantage at 10:54 after winning a faceoff in UPEI's zone. Jeremie Jacob collected the loose puck and managed to sneak it through a defender's legs before releasing a low shot that beat Ranger and doubled Moncton's lead to 3-1. 

The third period played out similarly to the first, with both teams playing tight, defensive hockey, preventing any significant offensive chances. Neither team could find the back of the net again, as the game ended with Moncton taking the 3-1 victory.

The Panthers will face another tough challenge as they prepare to take on the nation's top-ranked team, the UNB Reds, Saturday night, while Moncton hosts the defending champions the night before.

Photo Credit: Janessa Vanden Broek