Lions sweep Rams in OUA quarterfinals with 3-2 win in game 2
TORONTO, Ont. - The York University Lions men's hockey team eliminated the Ryerson Rams from the playoffs on Saturday night with a 3-2 victory at the Mattamy Athletic Centre to sweep their OUA quarter-final best-of-three series.
The Lions came out of the first game with a big 6-3 win after trailing by two at the end of the second period. There was less excitement in the second game as the Lions never trailed and advanced to the OUA semifinals for the second year in a row.
The first period saw strong offensive efforts on both sides, with the Rams making 12 shots on net and the Lions just behind at 10. However, defensive efforts were equally as strong, as neither team were able to score. The period ended in a 0-0 tie.
The Lions stepped up in the second period, with Colton Vannucci scoring 15 seconds into the frame. Assisting him in putting the Lions in the lead were Justin Bean and Trevor Petersen.
Daniel Nikandrov added a second goal for the Lions on a power play six minutes later to bring the Lions to a 2-0 lead. Josh LaFrance and Reid Jackman had the assists on the goal.
With one second remaining in the period, the Rams added their first goal of the game from Cavin Leth, assisted by Aaron Armstrong and Steven Harland to bring the score to 2-1 heading into the last 20 minutes of regulation.
Petersen – with the assistance of Derek Sheppard and Morgan Messenger – scored the Lions' third goal at 9:47 in the third period on a power play. The Rams wouldn't let the Lions get too far ahead, however, as Armstrong scored less than a minute later to cut the Ryerson deficit to just one again. He was assisted by Leth and Gregory DiTomaso.
That was the closest the Rams would get to the Lions, as goaltender Mack Shields stood tall to preserve the win. He finished with 24 saves, while Ryerson's Taylor Dupuis made 23 in the loss.
In the OUA West's other quarter-final match-up, the fifth-seeded Brock Badgers posted a huge 5-4 overtime victory to upset the first-place Guelph Gryphons and advance to the next round. The Lions will be the home team in the match-up and will host Game 1 and, if necessary, Game 3, while Game 2 will take place in St. Catharines, Ont. The full schedule for the series is to be announced.
Source: York Lions