Axemen force game four with 2-1 double OT win over Huskies

WOLFVILLE, NS - Saint Mary's goaltender Jeremy Helvig was spectacular with 41 saves, but the Huskies weren't able to get the game-winning goal, as the Acadia Axemen won 2-1 in double overtime on Monday night at the Andrew H. McCain Arena.

The Huskies now lead two games to one in the best-of-five series.

It was a thrilling finish to the game as the third star of the night Brendan Sellan (Hanover, ON) tipped in a point shot in the second overtime period. 

Goaltending was an essential piece to keep both teams in the game, as Conor McCollum (Pickering, ON) and Jeremy Helvig (Kingston, ON) put in a pair of incredible performances for Acadia and Saint Mary's respectively. 

McCollum was named Subway First Star of the Night and Helvig was awarded second star of the night for their stellar nights in the net. 

Following a 7-1 shellacking and a much closer 2-0 finish, Acadia responded with their strongest performance yet. 

Acadia began to be outplayed by the Huskies as the game wore on, but they came out with the victory thanks to their gritty play. 

It only took 35 seconds for the Axemen to get on the board. 

Acadia grabbed their first lead of the series early in the first period with a power-play goal in the opening minute of the game. 

The puck came out to Adam McMaster (Beamsville, ON), who was set up in the left face-off circle. McMaster ripped a shot high into the top right corner of the net to make it 1-0. 

This was the only goal of the period despite chances on both sides throughout the rest of the first. 

The play was chippy, with a few shoving matches breaking out after the whistle in front of both nets. 

By the end of the first period, the shots were tied 10-10. 

In the second, neither team was able to find the back of the net. There were a number of power-play opportunities, on both sides, in the frame, but neither team capitalized. 

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Great save by Jeremy Helvig! @SMUMensHockey trail 1-0 in the second period. pic.twitter.com/jUqKd70Kpq

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 28, 2023

Acadia had two strong scoring chances in the frame, including a failed 3-on-1 and a breakaway that led to a power-play after Nick Deakin-Poot (Georgetown, ON) had his stick slashed out of his hands. 

Saint Mary's had a few strong power-play chances but were unable to find the back of the net in the middle period. 

At the end of the second period, the shots were 24-21 in favour of Saint Mary's. 

Mirroring Acadia's first period, Saint Mary's scored 22 seconds into the third. Nathan Dunkley (Campbellford, ON) scooped the puck up in front of the net from a failed centering pass by Walter Flower (Lunenburg, NS) and threw it in past the scrambling Acadia goalie. 

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Nathan Dunkley ties it up just 22 seconds into the third period! @SMUMensHockey

��N. Dunkley (2)
��K. Getson
��W. Flower pic.twitter.com/1SCS76csRd

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 28, 2023

Dunkley's goal made the rest of the period a tense fight to see who could break the tie. 

Conor McCollum put on a showcase late in the third, making a pair of incredible saves during an offensive burst from the Huskies. 

Acadia had a few odd-man rushes in the frame but was shut down by the Huskies' defense. Their best chance came in the final minute when Morgan Nauss (Hammonds Plains, NS) got a pass from behind the net and took a clear shot while stepping in from the point uncovered, but Huskies defenceman Sam Dunn (Hamilton Township, ON) slid to block the shot.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Sam Dunn with a huge blocked shot late! Heading to overtime tied up 1-1! @SMUMensHockey pic.twitter.com/RhDWjePWI7

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 28, 2023

Overtime was needed to break the tie. 

Saint Mary's held a commanding 40-28 lead in shots. 

Both teams had solid chances in the first overtime, including a close call on a shot by Corson Hopwo (Duncan, BC) late frame. 

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

JEREMY HELVIG ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?! The Huskies goaltender with a great save in OT to keep the Huskies in it @SMUMensHockey pic.twitter.com/J6heXSXurJ

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 28, 2023

The shots were 47-33 for Saint Mary's heading into the second OT frame. 

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Jeremy Helvig with a couple more great saves! 41 stops on the night but the Axemen get the win, 2-1 in double OT. pic.twitter.com/uoynIfx9DQ

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 28, 2023

Acadia goalie Conor McCollum turned aside 51 of 52 shots in the game, while his Saint Mary's counterpart Jeremy Helvig stopped 41 of 43 shots. 

Game four of the AUS semifinals is tomorrow night, Tuesday, Feb. 28. Puck drop is 7 pm at Andrew H. McCain Arena. 

Recap by Joshua Foote, Acadia Athletics
Photos by Peter Oleskevich, Acadia Athletics