Ben Breault and the Tigers need a huge upset win tonight versus the Varsity Reds. (photo courtesy of Richard Lafortune)
Playofff ramifications are on the line tonight for the Dalhousie Tigers on the ice and on the court in AUS conference play.
In Charlottetown the Tiger's women's basketball team will play the UPEI Panthers in a four point game that could prove pivotal to the Tigers in their race with Unb for the final playoff spot.
The Reds host ST. FX today in Fredericton at one o`clock so when the Tigers tip off tonight versus the Panthers they will either be tied with the Reds or two points behind. (note- the X-Women are also tied with the Reds and Tigers with 12 points but have a guaranteed spot at AUS Championships as the tournament hosts).
The Reds and Tigers will play each other four times in February which will no doubt decide who goes to Antigonish and who stays home. But four points in the standings would give Dalhousie a huge leg up before the teams face each other on the floor.
It will be no easy task for the Tigers as Carly Clarke`s vastly improved Panthers squad has proven to be very tough on their home floor, and a four point win would give them 10 points in the standings and possibly provide the impetus for a February march for the playoffs.
Last weekend UPEI could not close out the Memorial Seahawks and ended up getting swept after blowing a 14 point half time lead on Saturday and losing in triple OT on Sunday.
Expect Clarke to have the troops fired up for what could be their final chance to stay in the hunt for playoffs.
The Tigers beat the Panthers two weeks ago at Dalplex 73-58. The game can be seen on Panthers TV.
Meanwhile back in Halifax at the Dalhousie Memorial Arena, the Tigers second half charge for the playoffs could be dealt a major blow if Chris Donnelly`s troops can`t beat the #2 CIS ranked Varsity Reds.
The Tigers sit three points behind the X-Men for the final spot, and St FX visits last place St.Thomas tonight in Fredericton.
Worst case scenario the Tigers will be five points behind at the end of the night with only three games to play. Dalhousie lost 5-2 last night to the UPEI Panthers who got a hat trick from Jared Gomes.
They probably will get the Reds best effort as Unb is in a dog fight with four other teams for the top two spots in the conference that would give them a first round bye.
The Tigers took the Reds to OT last weekend at the Aitken Centre before losing 3-2 and they willl have to summon up a similar effort if they hope to put up two points in the standings and stay in contention.
The Tigers and X-Men face each other twice in the last week of the season, including the final game of the season on February 11th which Dalhousie fans hope will essentially be a one game playoff.
Tonight`s game can be seen on ssncanada.ca at seven o`clock.
