Tommies defeat Panthers for second win in a row

It has been a while since this has been reported but the St. Thomas Tommies have won 2 games in a row. Tonight a four goal third period helped them to a 6 - 3 victory over the UPEI Panthers.

Stephen Sanza (Poulin, Labonte) got the game off on the right foot for STU just 31 seconds in. It only took the Panthers 50 seconds to equalize as Chad Locke took a cross ice pass and buried it by Charles Lavigne. Shortly thereafter Coach Ryan pulled Lavigne from nets in favour of Justin Collier and had some stern words for our #1 goalie. It seems to have been enough and 38 seconds later Charlie was back in net.

STU would regain the lead on the powerplay at 18:05 off the stick of Jonathan Bonneau (Eagles, Poulin) but UPEI would tie it up with 14 seconds left in the period. Shots were in STU's favour 12 - 11.

The Tommies ran into penalty trouble in the second period and it proved to be the difference as Reggie Traccitto would score for the Panthers on a two man PP at 15:39. UPEI would take a one goal lead into the third being outshot in the second period 11 to 9.

With the Panthers clinging to the one goal lead and time ticking down the never quit Tommies responded. With a delayed penalty call against the Panthers, F-A Poulin found the extra attacker, Brad Gallant, all alone in front of the net. Gallant(Poulin, Eagles) made no mistake and tied the game for STU. The excited crowd at the LBR hardly had a chance to stop cheering when 10 seconds later Gallant (Scott, Bonneau) drove hard down the right wing and fired the go ahead goal past a bewildered Mavric Parks.

Brad Gallant's second of the game would prove to be the winner, as Robert Zandbeek (Van Laren, Gallant) at 18:48 and Steve Sanza (Main, Eagles) at 19:17 would both score into the empty net, to cement the big win.

Charles Lavigne was solid in the win facing 31 Panther shots for his first win of the season. The Tommies fired 31 shots the other way. Daily Gleaner: Gallant effort for Tommies, and another win too (Article states Lavigne was pulled for most of the 1st period, he was not. It was for less than a minute.)

STU heads to Moncton tomorrow night looking for a tough win in a tough barn against U de M. Moncton will be hungry after a hard fought 6 - 3 loss to the Squirrels tonight. Former Tommie Matt Davis has joined UNB and got the win for the Squirrels in his green goalie pads (tap of the stick to D.K on that squirrel bit). Tomorrow's game can be watched on the Moncton webcast HERE starting at 7 PM. GO TOMMIES GO