MONCTON, NB - Les Moncton Aigles Bleus took a commanding 2-0 lead in their best of five Atlantic University Sport semi-final playoff series with the STFX X-Men, following a 5-2 victory on home ice Saturday night.
AUS first-team all-star Jacob Dion (Sherbrooke, QC) had two goals on the night for les Aigles Bleus while fellow AUS first-team all-star Matthew Struthers (Milton, ON) had a goal and an assist for STFX. Both Dion and Struthers were named the player of the game for their respective teams.
Moncton controlled much of the early play in the fast paced game, posting nine shots in the first 10 minutes compared to one from STFX. The X-Men battled back though and created some chances of their own. The testy play from Friday night's opener continued and the period ended 0-0, with Moncton leading in shots, 11-10.
It was STFX who opened the scoring five minutes into the second period, with Clark Webster (Kensington, PE) hopping on a rebound and finding the back of the net, as Liam Hawel (Arnprior, ON) and Struthers assisted.
Joseph Raaymakers (Chatham, ON) came up big in the X net on a couple of chances early during a Moncton powerplay midway through the period, but a point shot from Dion tied the game, with AUS all-rookie team member Jeremy Lapointe (Drummondville, QC) assisting.
The home team pulled ahead five minutes later, with Yannic Bastarache (Baie de Bouctouche, NB) backhanding home a second chance goal. Moncton maintained its advantage in shots, 26-18, at the end of the period as they took the 2-1 lead into second intermission.
The home team made it a two goal game two minutes into the final period, as Remy Anglehart (Gascon, QC) picked up a lead pass at the STFX blueline from Thomas Pelletier (Quebec, QC), skated in and potted one stick side.
The penalties continued to mount up, with STFX picking up a powerplay with under four minutes to go, and Struthers capitalized with a one-timer from Hawel and AUS all-rookie team member Charlie Callaghan (Toronto, ON).
A comeback wasn't in the works though, as Lapointe replied under a minute later for the Aigles Bleus, and Dion added an empty netter 30 seconds after that for insurance.
The series now shifts to Antigonish for Game 3 on Tuesday, February 27 at 7 p.m. Game 4, if necessary, is set for Antigonish at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 28. Game 5, if necessary will be played in Moncton on March 1st.
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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics