(HALIFAX, N.S.) - The Saint Mary's Huskies (12-14-0) snapped a three game losing streak against the X-Men (11-12-3) as they defeated the X-Men 7-3 at the Forum. Lucas Bloodoff scored twice and picked up an assist while Stephen MacAulay notched three helpers.
Bloodoff's powerplay goal at 4:45 of the first period gave the Huskies a 1-0 lead. Bloodoff was planted in front of Drew Owsley's crease when he redirected Kyle Pereira's low point shot.
At 7:31, Francis Menard doubled his team's lead when he completed a tic-tac-toe passing play. On an odd man rush, Cory Tanaka and Steven Beyers set up a wide-open Menard for his 6th goal of the season.
Unhappy with his team's slow start, StFX head coach Brad Peddle took an early timeout to rally his troops. The maneuver seemed to have the opposite effect, however, as the Huskies quickly scored again at 8:58. This time it was Ryan Hillier scoring his 6th of the season with assists from Bloodoff and MacAulay.
The X-Men didn't lay down as they reduced the deficit to one with a couple of power play goals before the end of the first period.
Jarrad Struthers made it 3-1 when his shot from the top of the circle found its way through a good screen by Cole Grbavac to beat Anthony Peters. It was Struthers' 12th goal of the season, tying him with Robert Slaney for the team lead.
At 18:44 of the first, Michael Kirkpatrick closed the gap to one when he scored just eight seconds into a Cory Tanaka cross-checking penalty.
The Huskies came out strong in the second period as they regained a three goal cushion before the four minute mark. Tanaka made it 4-2 when he cleaned up the rebound off a Steven Beyers shot. Shortly after, Bloodoff buried his tenth of the season. At 5-2, Owsley's night was cut short in favour of backup Morgan Clark.
Jason Bast scored a powe rplay goal early in the third period but goals from Jamie Doornbosch and Brad Greene sealed the deal for the Huskies.
Tempers flared halfway through the third period when Peters was bowled over while playing the puck behind his net. The ensuing skirmish was the culmination of several prior instances in which X-Men collided with Peters. Matt Tipoff and Bronson Maschmeyer dropped the gloves and engaged in a spirited tilt which brought the game's emotions back to a simmer.
There are two games remaining in AUS regular season play. The X-Men will play St. Thomas in Fredericton on Friday night, followed by a game against the Panthers in Charlottetown on Saturday. Saint Mary's plays the same two squads on the opposite nights.
Both the Huskies and X-Men have clinched AUS playoff berths and their quarter-final opponents will be determined following regular season play, either Moncton or UPEI. Acadia and UNB have clinched first round byes.
Source: Brian Mosher for Saint Mary's Sports Information