The St F.X. X-Men got a goal from Chris Hulit with less than two minutes remaining in the game to edge the UPEI Panthers 3-2 in the opening game of the best-of-three Atlantic University Sport playoffs Wednesday night at the MacLauchlan Arena.
The Panthers battled back from a 2-0 deficit and tied the game 2-2 in the third period but were unable to answer the third X-Men goal despite getting some quality scoring chances with the extra attacker after pulling the goalie.
The loss is the first for the Panthers since dropping a 5-1 decision on the road to the Moncton Blue Eagles on Jan. 23.
Panthers head coach Forbes MacPherson said his team got away from doing the little things that made them successful coming into the playoffs and have to get back to playing its game.
"It came down to one mistake and it ended up being the game winner," MacPherson said.
Scoring for the Panthers were Michael MacIsaac and Cory Vitarelli.
Replying for the X-Men were Rob Warner, Ryan Sparling and Hulit.
Bryan Gillis made 28 saves in the win for the X-Men while Wayne Savage made 33 in the loss.
The X-Men never trailed in the game, taking a 2-1 lead into the third period after a scoreless first.
The opening period saw the best scoring chances go to the X-Men, especially on the power play, but neither team was able to get on the board.
The X-Men got the game's first goal when Warner scored at 9:17 of the second period
The teams traded a couple of quick goals near the end of the frame with Sparling tallying at 18:13 to give the X-Men a 2-0 lead, only to have MacIsaac cut the lead in half with a goal at 19:11.
The third period started much like the first but the Panthers started getting some chances as time ticked down and eventually tied the game on Vitarelli's goal at 13:36.
Overtime was looming before Hulit got the winner at 18:18.
With over a minute left, the Panthers called a timeout and pulled the goalie for the extra attacker but were unable to pull even despite a number of scoring chances, including a shot of the post.
MacPherson said his team will be ready for Game 2.
"This is a team that's faced a lot of adversity this year. This is just the next challenge."
The series is not decided by the first game, MacPherson added.
"Home ice isn't Game 1, it's the final game of the series."
The Panthers travel to Antigonish, N.S. in a must-win situation for Game 2 on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The teams will head back to P.E.I. for Game 3, if necessary, at the MacLauchlan Arena on Sunday.
Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.
