X-Men earn home ice victory over Tigers

The StFX X-Men grinded out a 3-2 victory over the Dalhousie Tigers Friday evening in AUS hockey action at the StFX Keating Centre.

Jarrad Struthers' goal at 13:16 of the third period was the game winner as the X-Men overcame a 2-1 deficit for the win. Michael Kirkpatrick fed the puck to X-Men forward Struthers who was streaking to the front of the Tigers net. He made no mistake in beating Dalhousie goaltender Wendell Vye. Josh Day also picked up an assist on the play.

Vye kept the Tigers in the game and was named the third star as he posted 40 saves. StFX outshot Dalhousie by a considerable 43-18 margin but found themselves playing 'catch-up' throughout the game.

It was the Tigers who opened the scoring just under three minutes into the game. Chris Ivanko's shot from the point was redirected in by Luke Madill past X-Men netminder Drew Owsley. The goal came after X-Men forward Jason Bast was stopped by Vye on a point blank shot from the slot at the other end of the ice.

Rob Slaney tied the game with a power play marker at 8:22. After Vye made a couple of initial saves on the penalty kill, Slaney picked up a loose puck in front and shoveled it in the net. Brandon Hynes and the game's second star Michael Kirkpatrick assisted on the play.

The X-Men outshot the Tigers 15-2 in the opening period, despite the 1-1 score.

Vye once again kept the Tigers in the game in the second period. X-Men defenseman Bronson Maschmeyer had an excellent scoring opportunity while on the power play, firing towards an open net, but Vye slid across to keep the puck out.

The X-Men controlled a lot of the puck possession in the middle period and outshot the visitors 18-10 but the two teams were held scoreless.

Tigers captain Pierre Vandall re-established Dalhousie's one-goal lead 1:28 into the third period as the Tigers were pressuring in the StFX zone. He moved the puck out front and slid it under Owsley for the score. Patrick Daley and Brett Theberge assisted.

X-Men captain and fifth year defenseman Josh Day then replied with the tying goal at the 11:15 mark. The goal came just at the end of a 5-on-3 power play opportunity for the X-Men. Day blasted a shot from the top of the point through heavy traffic that found its way through and beat Vye. Spencer McAvoy and Jarrad Struthers had the helpers.

Day was named Subway player of the game and first star for his on-ice efforts. He had an assist on Struthers' game winning goal.

The Tigers pulled Vye with just under a minute to play in the game but could not score the equalizer.

Drew Owsley posted 16 saves for the win.

The X-Men snapped a four-game losing skid with the victory, improving to 11-11-3 on the season. They remain in fifth place, three points up on Saint Mary's and four points back of UPEI. They will face the Huskies on Saturday night in Halifax. Puck drop is 7:00 pm at the Forum.