Panthers claw past Tigers in shootout thriller for first win of the season

By Thomas Becker

The UPEI Panthers bounced back in dramatic fashion Saturday night, outlasting the Dalhousie Tigers 2-1 in a shootout to capture their first win of the season and put Friday's home opener behind them.

It was a gritty, defensive battle from start to finish, with both teams fighting through the fatigue of playing on back-to-back nights. Goals were hard to come by, but the Panthers (1-1) made the most of their chances late and held their nerve when it mattered most.

Ben McFarlane emerged as the hero of the night, scoring the lone shootout goal and the late go-ahead marker that nearly sealed it in regulation. With just 37 seconds remaining, Donovan Arsenault's relentless forecheck forced a turnover in front of the Dalhousie (0-1-1) net. McFarlane pounced on the loose puck, pulled it to his forehand, and unleashed a wrist shot over the goaltender's shoulder to give UPEI a 1-0 lead.

That goal looked like it would stand as the winner until heartbreak struck in the dying seconds. With only 15 seconds left, the Tigers won an offensive zone faceoff and flooded the crease. After two desperate attempts to centre the puck, Ryan Del Monte finally found Brody Fournier, who tapped it past Jakob Robillard with just two seconds on the clock, sending the game to overtime.

Dalhousie netminder Kaiden Kirkwood was the reason they got that far. The rookie was sensational throughout, denying 40 of 41 shots and giving his team a chance to secure a point despite being outplayed for long stretches.

Neither team could break through in the extra frame, setting the stage for the shootout where McFarlane once again delivered, beating the Dalhousie netminder cleanly for the only goal of the session. 

"It was a great team win, maybe not exactly how we drew it up, but we battled hard and found a way to get two points," McFarlane said. "Everyone competed tonight and played the Panther way. It's still early, but you can already see the heart and talent in this group. We just have to keep building on that." 

Robillard earned the win for UPEI, turning aside 21 shots and stopping all three shootout attempts he faced.

The Panthers hit the road for the next two games—Friday night against the Saint Mary's Huskies, followed by a Saturday night tilt against the Acadia Axemen.

Photos: Janessa Vanden Broek