Tommies fall in shootout to Panthers

Randy Cameron is denied a goal by UPEI's goaltender
Jhase Sniderman in AUS action from the LBR.
Courtesy Dylan Buell

The Tommies picked up one point tonight in a shootout loss to UPEI.  Final score was 4 to 3 but the story of the game were chances that STU couldn't capitalize on.  More on that later.

St. Thomas opened the scoring on Yuri Cheremetiev's (Cameron, Reich) first of the season at 3:43.  Randy Cameron went behind the net and fed Yuri a perfect pass, who put it past Jhase Sniderman in the PEI net.  Cheremetiev would get a partial break and made no mistake sniping a top corner at 8:39 with assists to Morin and Cameron.  PEI would cut the lead late in the period and the teams would head to the first intermission with STU on top 2 - 1.

Jonathan Bonneau (Bernier, Sanza) would restore the two goal lead just 37 seconds into the second frame when he rushed down the left side and wristed a shot five hole for a 3 to 1 lead.  STU would hold that lead until 18:30 when PEI scored on a three on one break to make the score 3 to 2 .  Charles Lavigne would take a penalty after the goal but STU weathered the storm and took the one goal lead into the third.

PEI would run into penalty trouble in the third period, including a full two minute, two man disadvantage but the Tommies could not score.  The Panthers would then come down and score at 18:06 to tie the game.  Before the period ended STU would be sent to another full two minute, two man powerplay, which would run into overtime.  The Tommies could not capitalize again and the inability to score would ultimately cost them, as the overtime solved nothing. 

The Tommies shot first in the shootout.  Felix Poulin, Yuri Cheremetiev, and Randy Cameron would all miss on their shots.  PEI's third shooter, Chris DeSousa, would end it when the puck he shot squeaked through Charles Lavigne's pads for the winner.  Final shots were 39 - 35 in favour of STU.

Next game is tomorrow night in Moncton versus the Aigles Bleus, who defeated UNB tonight 5 to 1 in the Squirrels worst loss of the season.