Panthers top CIS No. 1 ranked Axemen in 3-1 win

WOLFVILLE, N.S. - Ryan MacKinnon's (Summerside, P.E.I.) powerplay goal with 6:44 remaining in the third period was the eventual game winner as the UPEI Panthers handed the CIS No. 1 Acadia Axemen a 3-1 loss at home.

The Panthers opened early. Six minutes into the first period, Craig MacLauchlin (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) collected his own lose puck after an outside-in approach to the Axemen net and snapped a high close range shot over Brandon Glover's (Victoria, B.C.) blocker side for the powerplay goal.

With a 1-0 UPEI lead after one period, the Axemen responded at 10:43 in the second frame when Zachery Franko (Winnipeg, Man.) dropped a pass back to blueliner Liam Maaskant who slapped a mid-high shot on the blocker side of a screened Matt Mahalack (Monro, Michigan) to tie the game at one.

Following MacKinnon's third period goal, Panther Marcus Power solidified the win with an empty net powerplay goal with 20 seconds remaining in the game.

Outshot 39-21, the Panthers kept the Axemen at bay with impressive goaltending by the goaltender Matt Hahalak who earned the Subway First Star honours. Axeman Mike Cazzola (Guelph, Ont.) and Panther Ryan MacKinnon were named second and third stars respectively.

The Axemen drop to 16-3-2, while UPEI improves to 10-8-2 and sit two points behind the fourth place Saint Mary's Huskies.