Stothart scores in OT to defeat Lakers 4-3, Gaels look for the sweep Friday in Kingston
NORTH BAY, Ont. - The No.9 Queen's Gaels (1-0) used overtime to defeat the Nipissing Lakers (0-1) in game one of the OUA playoffs in their best-of-three series. Alex Stothart (Ottawa) was able to tuck home the winner in the extra period to give the Gaels a 1-0 lead in the series.
GAME FLOW
The start of the playoffs for the Gaels was penalty-filled as they found themselves shorthanded in the opening minutes of the game. The team was able to kill off a five-on-three chance for Nipissing who finished with 11 shots on Gaels goaltender Kevin Bailie (Belleville, Ont.) in the period.
At the nine-minute mark of the period, a puck that was dumped behind the Gaels net took a funny bounce as Bailie went to play the puck behind the net, it bounced out front to a wide-open Deverick Ottereyes who opened the scoring.
The Gaels controlled the pace of play offensively and were finally able to break through themselves as Duncan Campbell (Brandon, Man.) took the puck up ice one on three and fired a shot from just inside the blue-line that fooled Brent Moran to even the score 1-1.
In the second, Queen's kept the pressure on but couldn't fend off the penalty bug. They found themselves shorthanded once again early in the second period but were able to keep the Lakers from taking the lead. Fresh out of the penalty box, Graeme Brown (Gananoque, Ont.) was able to pick up the puck off of a back-check and take it up ice. He dropped it off for Slater Doggett (Oakville, Ont.) who made no mistake with a wrist-shot from the high slot.
Baile shut the door for the remainder of the period, and the Gaels headed to the third up 2-1.
Mid-way through the third period, the hometown Lakers were able to draw even on a goal from Brett Jeffries. Just 1:20 later Queen's re-took the lead 3-2 as Eric Ming fired a shot off the cross-bar and in.
With Moran on the bench and an extra-attacker out for Nipissing, the Lakers were able to tie the game up on a goal from Brett Hargrave to force overtime.
In overtime, the Gaels were finally able to break through at the 15:59 mark as Stothart finished off a scramble in front for the game-winner.
Bailie finished with 41 saves picking up the win while Moran stopped 53 shots in a losing effort.
Source: Queen's Gaels