28 janvier 2017 – Times & Transcript Aigles Bleus face big challenge against UNB’s Varsity Reds squad Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus captain Alex Saulnier, left, and Allain Saulnier, right, watch as UPEI Panthers forward Beau McCue’s shot is stopped by Aigles Bleus goalie Brandon Thibeau during Wednesday’s AUS men’s hockey conference game in Charlottetown. PHOTO: THe GuARDiAN The Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus - in a battle to make the Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey conference playoffs - face a huge test tonight. The Aigles Bleus host the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds in a 7 p.m. game at the J.-Louis-Lévesque Arena. The Varsity Reds are the defending national champions and are ranked first in the country. They led the AUS with a 19-2-3 record, nine points ahead of the second-place Acadia Axemen, entering play last night. The Aigles Bleus held down sixth place and the conference’s final playoff berth at 10-14-1. They have five regular-season games remaining. Moncton was two points ahead of the seventh-place Dalhousie Tigers and one point behind the fifth-place University of Prince Edward Island Panthers going into last night. The Aigles Bleus are coming off a 5-2 road win over UPEI on Wednesday to snap a two-game losing streak. Tonight’s game is the fourth meeting of the season between Moncton and UNB. The Varsity Reds have dominated the season series, taking the first three games and outscoring the Aigles Bleus 27-3. Moncton head coach Serge Bourgeois is hopeful his team can deliver a better performance tonight. 28 janvier 2017 – Times & Transcript “We are playing very good hockey lately. We will focus on our game. I know we have had some difficulty playing against UNB, but we need to look at them as another team,”he said. “Our work in the neutral zone will consist of slowing them and we will do better in our defensive zone. These are two important standings points for us as we try to get closer to UPEI and (fourth-place) Saint Mary’s. The game in our nest with the backing of our fans should be different.” The Aigles Bleus have allowed the most goals in the country this season, 112 in 25 games. All Moncton players are available tonight except defenceman Danick Emond, who was injured in Wednesday’s game at UPEI. Rookie goaltender Alexi Thibaudeau starts in net tonight for the Aigles Bleus. Moncton forward Allain Saulnier was second in the country in scoring with 38 points (four goals and 34 assists) in 25 games entering last night, four points behind leader Philippe Maillet of UNB. Aigles Bleus teammate Jean-François Plante was third in the nation with 37 points in 25 games. Plante’s 27 goals leads the country. Plante is tied with former players Ronald LeBlanc (1972-73), Claude Gosselin (1986- 87) and Dany Gauvin (1988-89) for fifth place on the school’s all-time single season goals list with 27. After tonight, Moncton has just one home game remaining in the regular season. .