Moncton holds on to 2-0 win over Axemen

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Acadia started off 2019 at home with a loss, as the Moncton Aigles Bleus shutout the Axemen 2-0 on Friday night in Wolfville. With their fourth consecutive loss, the Axemen remain tied for last place in their division with the Dalhousie Tigers, who also lost on Friday night.

The Axemen dominated play throughout the first period but they were unable to find the back of the net.

Likewise, Moncton could not crack the Acadia goaltender, despite a few solid chances, including a partial breakaway while shorthanded near the midpoint of the period.

By the end of the first period, the shots were 12-4 for Acadia.

Moncton responded with a dominant second period and they broke the scoreless tie with 3:03 remaining in the second period on a goal from forward Maxime St-Cyr.

Cyr was waiting unattended at the side of the Axemen net and buried a cross-crease pass to make it 1-0.

The Aigles Bleus could have added another goal or two in the frame were it not for Axemen goalie Logan Flodell, who made several brilliant saves in the second.

Flodell made a series of incredible diving saves on a 5-on-3 penalty kill that garnered a substantial amount of applause from the home crowd.

Despite amazing play from Flodell, the Axemen were unable to help their goaltender with any offence in the second, as Moncton took the 1-0 lead into the third.

By the end of the second period, the shots were 24-21 for Acadia.

Moncton finally capitalized on a power-play late in the third to secure their lead, as they repeated the cross-crease pass that led to their goal in the second period.

Forward Vincent Deslauriers was on the goal scorer this time around, burying the pass from forward Marc-Anthony Therrien to make it 2-0.

The Axemen were unable to solve the Moncton goalie, even with a 6-on-4 power-play in the dying minutes of the game.  

Axemen goaltender and second star of the night, Logan Flodell turned aside 22 of 24 shots, while his Moncton counterpart and Subway First Star of the Night, Etienne Montpetit stopped all 28 shots he faced.

"I thought the guys played really hard in front of me, the D battled really hard. I guess the puck wasn't going our way tonight and unfortunately we hit a couple of posts. At the end of the day, we just got to get to the net and create a little more offense to create those goals. It's going to come, we are the youngest teams in the league, so it's going to come," noted Flodell following the game.

Moncton forward Maxime St-Cyr was named third star of the night.   

The Axemen take to the ice again tomorrow night against the Saint Mary's Huskies. Puck drop is at 7:00pm.

Provided by Joshua Foote, Acadia Athletics Communications Office