X-Men defeat Aigles Bleus 3-2

Photo courtesy UdeM sports information
Photo courtesy UdeM sports information

MONCTON – Mark Tremaine and Sam Studnicka scored unanswered in the third period to enable the StFX X-Men (13-8-2) to come from behind and squeeze out a 3-2 win over the Moncton Aigles Bleus (9-14-1) Saturday evening at the J.-Louis-Lévesque Arena.

Studnicka's game winner came unassisted at 13:34 of the final frame.

The Aigles Bleus had a 2-1 lead in the second period on Jean-François Plante's 26th goal of the season following an exceptional passing play between Carl Marois, Mitchell Robillard and Plante.

Robbie Graham (from Samuel LeBlanc), shorthanded on a hard and precise wrist shot, brought the score to 1-1 in the first period after a power play goal by StFX's Cole MacDonald at 10:01.

Moncton goaltender Brandon Thibeau faced 42 shots, including 16 in the first and 13 in each of the following two periods, for the loss. He was strong in the third against a number of hard and close-up shots by the visitors.

Chase Marchand saw 27 pucks for the win, 14 in the second period and only four in the third.

Moncton was 0-for-4 on the power play while StFX was 1-for-9.

Moncton, with six games left in the AUS regular schedule, will visit the UPEI Panthers, Wednesday evening in Charlottetown in a 7pm game.

The X-Men will travel to Wolfville, NS to visit the Acadia Axemen, also on Wednesday evening at 7pm.

Courtesy Moncton sports information