Balmas scores OT winner over PEI

The UPEI Panthers (8-13-4) let three leads slip away as they lost in overtime against the Saint Mary's Huskies (15-11-0) in AUS men's hockey action.

The Huskies are now three points clear of Moncton for third place in the AUS standings after the win 5-4 overtime win over the Panthers on Saturday Jan. 25.

With the loss, UPEI has lost five games in a row and have two wins and six losses in the month of January.

The Panthers started well and came out strong in the first period, Kameron Kielly added his 12th goal of the season less than two minutes into the period.

Play was back and forth in the first, with just under eleven minutes remaining Mitchell Balmas put the puck past UPEI's Simon Hofley. It was initially called no goal but after the references conferred the call was overturned.

Hofley made several saves to keep the game tied before Kielly scored his second of the game off of a rebound on the power-play. Kyle Maksimovich picked up his second assist of the game as UPEI's lead was restored. 

The Huskies put on the pressure and lead the shots 14-6 after the first period. 

SMU Captain Anthony Repaci scored a power-play goal about halfway through the second period to tie the game.

Their power-play continued to hum in the second as Subway Player of the Game, Dawson Theede found the back of the net two minutes later on the man advantage.

Shots were 30-18 for the Huskies after the second period.

Just under three minutes into the third Owen Headrick tied the game as Kielly picked up an assist to earn his third point of the evening.

Less than two minutes later, Filip Rydstrom scored giving UPEI the lead with just under 15 minutes left in the game.

SMU answered back under five minutes later as Theede grabbed his second goal of the game.

Shots were 40-28 for SMU at the end of regulation.

Overtime was back and forth until with just over a minute remaining Balmas scored his second goal of the game to seal it.

UPEI's Hofley made 37 saves in the loss while SMU's Eric Brassard had 26 saves to earn the overtime win. 

The Panthers will be back at home Wednesday Feb. 5 at 7:00 P.M. to face Moncton.

By Ben MacIntosh, PEI