The Saint Mary’s Huskies hit the ice running to start the third period and used the momentum to defeat the Number one ranked UNB Varsity Reds 2-1 Friday night at the Halifax Forum.

 

Shawn O’Donnell opened the scoring for Saint Mary’s with a wrap around goal at the 11:00 minute mark of the second period. But the V-Reds were quick to answer when Chris Culligan snapped a shot between the legs of Huskies goalie Neil Conway.

  

With the game tied at one after two periods the Huskies dominated the reigning CIS national champions, keeping the V-Reds trapped in their own zone for the opening four minutes of the final frame.

 

Huskies captain Colby Pridham said head coach Trevor Stienburg didn’t say anything different in between periods that lead to the strong start of the third period.

 

“I think it was just a matter of everyone knowing what we had to do, sticking to a game plan and keeping it simple. It started with one good shift and we just kind of built off it,” says Pridham.

 

UNB survived the opening flurry and seemed to be on track to inflict some offensive pressure of their own, when Huskies forward Chris MacKinnon was sent off for slashing at the 6:45 minute mark of the third. But V-Reds defensemen Chad Denny coughed up the puck deep in his zone and then took a holding penalty as a streaking Saint Mary’s player cut to the net. With 1:11 left on Denny’s penalty, first year UNB forward Antoine Houde-Caron was called for interference.

 

With a little over twelve minutes to play in the game the Huskies power-play went to work with a two man advantage. The V-Reds penalty kill was moving smoothly, blocking several shots from the point. With Denny back on the ice the Huskies power-play clicked with a 5-on-4 situation. Team captain Colby Pridham walked in from the top of the right circle and snapped a shot that beat a screened Dan LaCosta in the UNB goal.

 

“We didn’t generate as much offense as we wanted on the 5-on-3, and it was getting a little late with the 5-on-4 so I just took a shot on net. Luckily it was one of those seeing-eye pucks and just went in,” said Pridham.

 

With a one goal lead and just under ten minutes to play in the third period, the Huskies turned their focus to protecting the lead and were happy to let the time tick slowly off the clock. With under a minute left to play and LaCosta on the bench, all the big guns were on the ice for the V-Reds. The huskies were able to clear the puck with about 20 seconds left to clinch the win.

 

Huskies captain Pridham says it was great to get the valuable two points in the extremely tight AUS conference.

 

“The game could have gone either way and they had chances right to the end, it’s a playoff atmosphere every time we play these guys. We are just really happy with the win,” said Pridham.

 

 

This page last modified Saturday, 14-Jan-2012 11:21:25 AST