A win over the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees and the Concordia University Stingers has given the Carleton Ravens men’s hockey team a second chance to capitalize on their momentum heading into week six of the regular season.
Saturday’s game against the 2-8-1 Concordia Stingers marks the Ravens’ second set of three straight wins this season. The club’s first three-game win streak was broken after losing to the McGill Redmen on Oct. 18.
“We can’t get too fancy. We have to stick to our simple game style. That’s the way to win them,” Ravens veteran defenceman Jordan Deagle said.
The Ravens’ win over the Gee-Gees Oct. 16 wraps up the teams’ meetings this season. The Ravens finished their meetings with their cross-town rivals at 2-1-0.
“You know anytime you come off a three-game win streak you feel good, but we have to take things one game at a time and keep working hard,” Ravens head coach Marty Johnston said.
The Ravens had a slow start the following day against the Concordia Stingers. Olivier Hinse of the Stingers scored short-handed at 9:15 in the first period to start things off.
The Ravens persevered through the first period with a number of chances to even the score. With a minute left in the first frame, Ravens forward Joey Manley had consecutive opportunities to tie the game, catching the iron twice.
“I kind of had some bad luck there but kept going,” Manley said.
Aside from Carleton’s scoreless first period, their defensive play held the Stingers to just one goal for the majority of the game. Ravens goaltender Karsten Pankhurst blocked 13 shots, most of which came within 20 feet of the crease. Defenceman Charles Carre made a diving effort to block a shot that would have carried the Stingers to a two-goal game.
Despite Carleton’s defensive efforts, Stingers right-winger Alexandre Monahan buried the puck past Pankhurst to carry their lead to a two goal differential. The Ravens kept perpetual pressure on the Stingers with Andrew Glass, who slid the puck past Concordia’s goalie. However, his efforts were not enough to cross the goal line.
An aggressive approach to the second period from Carleton’s power-play unit of Jeff Hayes, Mitch Porowski, and Ryan Berard resonated throughout the bench. With ample opportunities, the Stingers netminder held his ground, blocking 14 shots in the second period.
Carleton was given another man advantage at 8:50 of the second period. Graham Klassen notched his first goal of the season to bring the Ravens within one goal.
A shorthanded breakaway in the third period from Hayes, tallied yet another scoring opportunity, but Concordia’s Loic Boivin denied Carleton’s quick centreman. With just over five minutes left in regulation, Berard let a quick wrist shot go from the top of the circle, but came up short.
Finally, after the Ravens battled with posts and Concordia’s talented netminder, Berard evened the score at two goals apiece. With 3:35 left in the game, the Stingers were forced into a penalty kill, allowing Carleton’s leading scorer, Porowski, to put the game away with his ninth goal of the season.
The Ravens are now facing their second opportunity to continue a three-game winning streak.
“I think we’ve got something special this year. The team that’s going to win in this league is the one that works the hardest,” Manley said.
Coach Johnston has been playing his four lines equally in the team’s last two appearances.
“It really makes you feel appreciated and drives you to work harder when your coach is rolling through all four lines,” Deagle said.
Johnston was hopeful that the team could go injury-free for the remainder of the season.
“We have to remember that guys get injured in this league and so it’s important that all 20 guys show up every night to play our style of hockey,” he said.
The Ravens are back in action with two home games Nov. 23-24, facing off against RMC and Queen’s, respectively.
