The Carleton Ravens took advantage of home ice in the playoffs, beating the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) Patriotes 5-2 in front of a packed Ice House crowd on Feb. 15.
“I think both teams care. Both teams want to send a message and that’s what good hockey teams do,” Ravens head coach Marty Johnston said following the game.
Carleton scored the game’s first goal four and half minutes in, when Ravens defender Evan de Haan’s point shot made its way through traffic past UQTR goaltender Sebastien Auger.
Carleton struck again six minutes later, when forward Nathan Todd took a shot from the slot that went in over Auger’s shoulder.
“I got the chance to know [Auger] and play with him for three weeks [at the 2017 Winter Universiade],” Ravens captain Michael McNamee said. “He’s one of the guys who gets mad when a puck gets by him in practice. Traffic, lots of shots those are the keys. I’m sure he’ll bounce back Saturday.”
UQTR responded quickly following a turnover in the Ravens end, and UQTR winger Guillaume Asselin took a pass from Pierre-Olivier Morin to cut the lead in half.
Four minutes into the second frame, UQTR tied the game when forward Carl-Antoine Delisle put the puck over Ravens goaltender François Brassard’s shoulder.
The Ravens opened the third period on the power play, following an interference call late in the second period against Asselin. Carleton quickly set up in the offensive and Ravens forward Brett Welychka saucered a pass to McNamee, who one-timed it past Auger.
Carleton added to their lead shortly after when Ravens defender David Weckworth snuck in from the point and slid the puck past a sprawling Auger.
With just under four minutes left in the third, Ravens forward Adam Chapman sped down the left wing and wired a slapshot top corner to put the Ravens up 5-2.
Following the Chapman goal, the physical play really picked up with pushing and shoving in front of both nets following nearly every stoppage in play.
Frustration began to boil over for the Patriotes, as Asselin received a minor penalty, along with a 10-minute misconduct for checking to the head with less than five minutes to go, while other miner penalties were assed later following a scrum.
The two teams meet again for game two of the best of three series at Le Colisée in Trois Rivières on Feb. 18.
“I don’t have the crystal ball. I have been down this road so many times. We are going to keep things simple,” Johnston said. “It’s no secret that we haven’t had a lot of success at Le Colisée. We will prepare our guys to play an excellent hockey team that will be ready for us.”
– Photo by Dan Robertson
