(Wolfville, NS) First year winger Chris Bruton scored the game-winning goal with 41 seconds remaining in the third period en route to the Axemen's 4-2 quarterfinal victory over the StFX X-Men Friday night at Acadia, and in doing so eliminated the X-Men from the AUS playoffs with a 2-0 series sweep.

After scoring five goals on Wednesday in Antigonish, the Axemen were largely dormant through the first two periods, but peppered StFX goaltender Danny Battochio with 14 of their 16 shots in the final frame.

Chris Hulit opened the scoring at 12:50 of the first period on the powerplay for the X-Men.  Hulit deflected a Phil Magnan shot through the legs of Acadia goaltender Kristofer Westblom.

Jonathan Laberge responded for Acadia at 16:14 of the first frame. From behind the net, Laberge poked the puck, which was perched on the top of the net, resulting in a controversial goal off the back of Battachio.

Acadia managed only five shots in the first period, and their lacklustre effort continued into the second as evidenced by their taking several penalties. At the tail end of their first powerplay of the second frame, StFX’s Brett Liscomb converted on a pass from Brett Morrison into the slot to make it 2-1 for the visitors.

Tyler Whitehead’s acrobatic tip off an aerial pass into the crease from Laberge with sixteen seconds remaining in the second period, evened the score at two heading into the second intermission.

It appeared the game was going into overtime, but Bruton's goal with only 41 seocnds remaining in the game defelcted in off an X player to give Acadia the edge. Blair Jarrett added an empty netter 26 seconds later to solidify the win.  The X-Men out-shot Acadia 30-28 and had a 22-17 shots on net advantage after two periods.

The disappointed X-Men return home empty-handed and eliminated from further AUS playoff compeition while the Axemen will wait until the other quarterfinal series between Moncton and UPEI wraps up to determine seeding and opponents for the smei-finals.

Game information courtesy of Acadia Sports Information