Hockey Axemen top Tigers in 5-2 win

(Halifax, N.S.) – A three-goal first period helped the visiting Acadia Axemen top the Dalhousie Tigers 5-2 on Friday night at the Halifax Forum. 

The two teams combined for 30 first period shots and four goals in a frenzied first period. Acadia got on the board just 11 seconds into the contest on their first shot of the game.

Defenceman Matt Pufahl (Saskatoon, SK) slipped an accurate pass to forward Boston Leier (Saskatoon, SK) cross-crease and he made no mistake. The Tigers had an excellent chance to tie the contest just over nine minutes in, as forward Mike Evelyn (Ottawa, ON) intercepted a pass in the Axemen zone, but couldn't beat Acadia goalie Robert Steeves (Moncton, NB) on the breakaway. 

The visitors took back control in the closing minutes of the first frame, scoring twice. Defenceman Marc McNalty (Medicine Hat, AB) would tap in a rebound off of a Pufahl shot at 17:08 on the powerplay, and just over two minutes later, forward Michael Clarke (Halifax, NS) made it 3-0 with a snap shot. 

The Tigers ended the period on a high note however, as forward Felix Page (Montreal, QC) broke into the Acadia zone with speed and went forehand-backhand past Steeves with just 12 seconds left. There was plenty of action in the second period as well, with numerous end-to-end rushes on both sides, but only one goal. 

Page would narrow Acadia's lead to one just 1:24 into the middle frame, as his wrist shot went off the post and in. 

The Axemen had a great chance to increase their lead back to two just over eight mins in, however Dalhousie goalie Corbin Boes (Saskatoon, SK) was able to stop forward Scott Trask (Bonavista, NL) from in tight.Acadia put the game away in the third period with two powerplay goals. Forward Daniel Pettersson (Toronto, ON) made the score 4-2 with a slapshot at 6:53, and Remy Giftopoulos (Ancaster, ON) increased the Axemen's lead back to three at 10:41. 

With the win, Acadia improve to 8-5-1, while Dalhousie fell to 5-6-3. The Axemen host the U Sports No. 1 ranked UNB Varsity Reds next Friday night along with visiting UPEI on Saturday, while the Tigers next game goes tomorrow night against cross-town rivals Saint Mary's, while the Axemen will face UNB at home on Friday.