MHKY | Voyageurs Snap Losing Streak
January 11, 2020
The Laurentian Voyageurs men's hockey team started a back to back matchup with the RMC Paladins this Saturday and Sunday. After losing their previous match to the Ridgebacks, the Voyageurs' playoff picture was looking distant but with two wins on the weekend it would be possible. The Paladins are the first team the Voyageurs need to catch, 6 points ahead of them in the standings.
The Voyageurs started off with a goal just over halfway through the first frame scoring on Brad Van schubert. Xaiver Couture was fed outfront of the RMC netminder by Noah Kalsner-Lowe. David Elford would get the second assist.
The Paladins would be awarded a scoring opportunity after a Voyageurs turnover resulting in a goal from Cameron Lamport and the first RMC goal.
The Voyageurs got their first powerplay with three minutes left in the period and had several good chances, but couldn't beat Van schubert. With 10 seconds left in the period, the Voyageurs thought they'd taken the lead. The puck bounced up in the air above Van schubert's head, and William Gignac knocked it down and into the net. Unfortunately, the referees ruled he'd hit the puck with a high stick, and the goal was overturned. The teams went into the intermission tied 1-1, but a scrum at the buzzer led to the Voyageurs taking a couple of roughing penalties, giving the Paladins an opportunity on the powerplay to open the second period.
However, it would be the Voyageurs penalty kill unit who would find the back of the net just forty-eight seconds into the second frame. Ben Morris stole the puck beside the RMC net and tucked it behind Van schubert for his fourth goal on the season.
After gaining the lead the Voyageurs did not remain stagnant. Derek Varrin was hit floating on the opposing blue line from Russel Nowry. Varrin would rip the puck past Van schubert from the high slot and give the Vees a two goal lead on the Paladins. This would be Varrin's first goal on the season. Matthew Ferrari, playing his first game for the Voyageurs, picked up the second assist for his first point with the Voyageurs. Ferrari played for the York Lions last year before transferring to Laurentian.
The Paladins would cut into the Voyageurs lead after Christopher Paquette took a puck off the shin pad and redirected it behind Savard.
The last goal of the frame would be in favour of the Voyageurs yet again after a loose puck made its way to the open space in the high slot where Gavin Apperson would happily use it and the space available to beat Van schubert top corner for his third goal of the season. Gignac and Kalsner-Lowe would get the assists. The Voyageurs headed into the intermission up 4-2 on the scoreboard and 21-17 on the shot clock.
The Paladins pressed hard in the third, and while they had most of the possession the Voyageurs restricted their scoring chances to just 10 shots. With three minutes remaining, RMC's Lamport was penalized with a double-minor for high sticking, and it appeared all the Voyageurs had to do was retain possession and kill the clock. However, they turned the puck over and the Paladins came back the other way and pulled the goalie, bringing the game back to 5-on-5. Then with 1:13 left Apperson took an interference penalty, giving the Paladins a 5-on-4 man advantage since the net was still empty. Paquette scored his second of the game with 17 seconds left, bringing the Paladins back within one.
The Paladins opted to keep Van schubert pulled for the ensuing center-ice faceoff, which was won by the Voyageurs. The puck was moved over to Varrin, who would score his second of the game into the empty net late with 7 seconds left, giving the Voyageurs the 5-3 win.
The Voyageurs outshot the Paladins 31-27, as Mackenzie Savard made 24 saves. The Voyageurs' penalty killing was also a perfect 3-for-3, breaking RMC's streak of 10 straight games with a powerplay goal.
The Vees will replay the Paladins tomorrow at 2:30 in hopes to gain their fifth win on the season.
Sam Brooks