Johnson scores 2OT winner as Huskies defeat Panthers 3-2 in Game 1

(HALIFAX, N.S.) Saint Mary's forward Bradey Johnson scored the game-winning goal in double overtime, as the Huskies came-from-behind to defeat the UPEI Panthers 3-2  in Game 1 of the AUS men's hockey quarterfinal series on Wednesday night at the Dauphinee Centre. 

The Panthers opened the scoring with a powerplay goal midway through the first period, as forward Marc Richard (Clinton, PEI) redirected a centering pass from Patrick LeBlanc (Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, NB) past Huskies netminder Justin Sumarah (Halifax, NS), giving the visitors a 1-0 lead, 9:15 into the first period. 

UPEI doubled their lead several minutes later, as defenceman Zach Biggar (Coleman, PEI) fired a shot from the point that beat a heavily screened Sumarah high to make it 2-0 Panthers, 16:09 into the first period.  

The Panthers outshot the Huskies 11-9 through the first 20 minutes and took a 2-0 lead into intermission. 

The second period saw the Huskies generate several quality scoring opportunities, including a breakaway for forward Nathan Dunkley (Campbellford, ON), but Panthers goaltender Jakob Robillard (Rockland, ON) shut the door. 

The Huskies outshot the Panthers 10-9 in the second period, but UPEI took a 2-0 lead into second intermission.  

Just over two minutes into the third period, the Huskies cut into the Panthers lead, as Derek Gentile (Sydney, NS) had the puck poked away by a Panthers defender, but it landed on the stick of Ben Allison (Halifax, NS) who beat Robillard top corner to make it 2-1, 2:38 into the third period. 

A game-changing play happened several minutes later, as the Panthers broke out on a two-on-one, but Justin Sumarah absolutely robbed Panthers forward Josh Currie (Pickering, ON). Back-and-forth action ensued, with the Huskies getting a chance on a counterattack and forwards Ben Allison and Reid Valade (Caledon, ON) breaking out a give-and-go, with Valade finishing with a back-hand shot that beat Robillard and tied the game at 2-2, 5:47 into the third period. 

Both teams had quality scoring chances, but were not able to take a late lead. With just under a minute remaining, Huskies defenceman Dennis Busby (Oro-Medonte, ON) tripped in his own end, leading to a glorious chance for Marc Richard, but Sumarah made an incredible save to send the game to overtime. 

The first overtime saw both teams generate chances, including some controversy when the Panthers thought they had found the game-winner, but the net was knocked off its mooring and the officials called the goal off, as play went on. 

The Huskies best chance of the first overtime came when U SPORTS leading scorer Derek Gentile was sparked on a breakaway, but didn't get all of his shot attempt and Robillard turned it away. Ten minutes of overtime play solved nothing and the teams headed into double overtime. 

Just under two minutes into the second overtime period, the Huskies completed their comeback thanks to the heroics of Bradey Johnson (Lindsay, ON). The play began when forward Jake Uberti (Toronto, ON) picked up the puck behind the Huskies goal and found Johnson with a long stretch pass. Johnson then deked between a pair of Panthers defenders, and despite being tripped up, was able to whack the puck towards goal where it went off a Panthers defenders skate and into the back of the net for the game winning goal. 

The Huskies outshot the Panthers 44-34 on the night, with Justin Sumarah stopping 32 shots for the win, while Jakob Robillard turned away 41 shots in defeat. 

The Huskies take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three quarterfinal, which now shifts back to Charlottetown, where the Panthers will host the Huskies for game two on Friday night at the MacLauchlan Arena with puck-drop scheduled for 7 p.m. 

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics 
Photos by Mona Ghiz / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics