Repaci's pair helps Huskies top Panthers 6-2 - take 1-0 series lead

(Halifax, N.S.) The Saint Mary's Huskies opened the 2017-18 Subway AUS Men's Hockey Playoffs with a 6-2 win over the UPEI Panthers on Wednesday night at the Halifax Forum.

SMU now holds a 1-0 lead in the best of three series.

Anthony Repaci (Toronto, Ont.) scored twice in the first for the Huskies. Aaron Berisha (Mississauga, Ont.), Connor McGlynn (Oakville, Ont.) Bronson Beaton (Springhill, N.S.) and Hunter Garlent (Thorold, Ont.) tallied the other goals.

Beaton added two assists for a three-point night. 

Eric Brassard (St. Hubert, Que.) made 19 saves in the win.

Cody Payne (Davie, Fla.) and Kameron Kielly (Charlottetown, P.E.I) found the net for UPEI.

Matt Mahalak (Monrow, Mich.) got the start for the Panthers, but was pulled after allowing three-goals on seven shots. Mathew Mancina (Windsor, Ont.) came on in relief and made 26 saves in his first AUS playoff action.

It didn't take long for the Huskies to take control of the game.

Repaci got the scoring started 4:20 into the game. Beaton and Garlent had the helpers.

Berisha made it 2-0 just 38-seconds later. Jake Coughler (St. Catharines, Ont.) had the lone assist.

Repaci got his second at the 8:02 mark of the first, from Beaton and Alexander Peters (Blyth, Ont.).

McGlynn made it 4-0 7:26 into the second from Michael Curtis (Georgetown, Ont.)

Beaton pushed it to 5-0 with a power play marker at 18:26 of the second. Peters and Berisha set the play up.

Garlent scored on the power play 5:40 into the third, from Dylan DiPerna (Nobleton, Ont.) and Coughler.

Payne got UPEI on the board with an unassisted power play tally at 8:36 of the final frame.

Kielly made it 6-2 with another power play goal at 12:11. Marcus Power (St. John's, N.L.) and Darcy Ashley (Brooklyn, P.E.I.) picked up assists..

Shots were 36-21 for SMU.

Up next, game two of the quarterfinal series will be on Friday, February 16 in Charlottetown, P.E.I. at 7:00 p.m. AST. If needed, game three will be back at the Halifax Forum on Sunday, February 18 at 7:00 p.m. AST.

Cam Honey-Webb

Photo Nick Pearce