The UPEI Panthers know the Moncton Blue Eagles will be out for revenge when the two Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey teams clash tonight in Charlottetown.
Game time at MacLauchlan Arena is 7 p.m.
It will be final game for both teams before they go on their Christmas break.
The Panthers overcame a three-goal deficit last Saturday in Moncton to down the Blue Eagles 5-3.
Tonight’s matchup is a high stakes game for both teams.
Moncton (9-4-0) is sitting in fourth spot with 18 points, only two ahead of UPEI (8-5-0) in the Atlantic conference standings.
The game could see the two teams enter the break in a fourth-place tie or see Moncton move four points ahead of the Panthers into third place.
The Panthers are riding a four-game winning streak.
“It’s been a nice little stretch,” said UPEI head coach Forbes MacPherson. “To really have an enjoyable break, though, it would be nice to execute a good game and can a win.”
UPEI forward Jordan Knox agrees.
“We’ll all be in a little bit better of a mood (if we win),” he said. “You don’t want to go into the break losing.
Meanwhile, the Blue Eagles will be looking for revenge after Saturday’s loss, which knocked them down two notches, from third to fifth, in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport rankings.
UPEI rookie winger Travis McIsaac said the Panthers will be looking to tighten up on their first half of the game, after entering the second period of Saturday’s game trailing 3-0 to the Blue Eagles.
“Obviously we’re going to want a better start this time,” said McIsaac. “But, we’ve played pretty well at home for the most part. We just want to get a good start and to stay on them.”
After tonight’s game, the Panthers will be return to regular-season action Friday, Jan. 6, when they host the Saint Mary’s Huskies.
