ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û

By Earl Zukerman

MONTREAL – A shorthanded goal by Evan Vossen of Swift Current, Sask., highlighted a come-from-behind shootout victory for ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û in a 4-3 decision over Concordia before 633 university hockey fans at McConnell Arena, Wednesday.

It was a crucial win for ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û (9-6-2), which now trails third-place Concordia (10-5-3) in the congested OUA Far East standings, where only four points separate the last-place Redmen from second-place Carleton. ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û holds four games in hand.

The Redmen rallied from a 3-1 deficit at the midway mark of the second period, with goals from co-captain Eric L’Italien (power play) at 12:54 of the middle stanza and Vossen’s marker less than three minutes later. It was the second shorthanded goal of three scored this season by Vossen, a hard-working sophomore who was selected as the game’s second star.

After scoreless third and overtime periods, the Redmen outscored Concordia 2-0 in the shootout on goals by veteran centre Guillaume Doucet of Montreal and forward Simon-Marcotte Légaré, a sophomore from Longueuil, Que.

The Stingers had taken a 2-0 lead on goals by rookie Nicolas D’Aoust (power play) of Lorraine, Que., and Nicolas Sciangula, a sophomore from Anjou, Que.

Sam Bloom, a senior from Toronto, cut the Stingers lead to 2-1 at the four-minute mark of the middle period with his team-leading ninth of the season but freshman Corey ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûis of Sudbury, Ont., restored the two-goal cushion at 11:27 of the second.

Nicolas Lafontaine, who shot first for Concordia in the shootout and ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûis, were both foiled by ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û rookie netminder Danny Mireault, who was credited with 24 saves and won his third straight start, improving to 7-5-0.

The Redmen had a 40-24 margin in shots as Stinger sophomore Maxime Joyal of Chateauguay was credited with 36 saves and his record fell to 9-6-0.

The game was a spirited affair that featured 19 penalties, including a rare four unsportsmanlike minors, called by referee Dominic Bédard. Both teams went 1-for-5 on the power play.

Concordia blueliner Nicolaus Knudsen was ejected halfway through the opening period for a hit-from-behind infraction.

ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û, which has 20 of a possible 26 points in their last 13 contests, will head to southwestern Ontario this weekend for games against Brock (in Ste. Catharines) and at Guelph, Jan. 17-18, respectively.

REDMEN RAP: The Redmen were missing rookie Francis Verrault, their second-leading scorer with seven, who was serving the second of an automatic two-game suspension for instigating a fighting major in a game last week… Four of ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û’s last five contests have gone into overtime, with ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û winning three of them, including two via a shootout. The Redmen have scored on three of eight shootout opportunities this season, while opponents are 1-for-9 against ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û goalies. Doucet has two of the three Redmen shootout goals, while Serbian senior Marko Kovacevic has the other.


SCORING SUMMARY

Concordia 3 at ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û 4 (SO)

(Jan 14, 2009 - McConnell Arena)

FIRST PERIOD:
Scoring -
1. Concordia, Nicolas D’Aoust (10) (J. Goodsell, E. Begin) 12:59 (PP)

Penalties -
N. Knudsen Con (checking from behind, game misconduct) 9:40,
G. Doucet Mcg (holding opp. stick) 11:11,
L. Verrilli Mcg (unsportsmanlike cnd.) 12:42,
J. Goodsell Con (cross checking) 17:05,
L. Van Wieren Con (cross checking) 17:33,
A. Picard-Hooper Mcg (roughing) 17:33


SECOND PERIOD:
Scoring -
2. Concordia, Nicolas Sciangula (3) (N. Lafontaine, N. D’Aoust) 3:55
3. ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û, Sam Bloom (9) (A. Picard-Hooper, M. Kovacevic) 4:34
4. Concordia, Corey ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûis (3) (S. Sauve) 11:27
5. ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û, Eric L’Italien (7) (S. Marcotte-Legare, B. Gazdic) 12:54 (PP)
6. ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û, Evan Vossen (3) (M.A. Daneau) 15:36 (SH)

Penalties -
M. Element Con (unsportsmanlike cnd.) 4:47,
Y. Turcotte Mcg (unsportsmanlike cnd.) 4:47,
M. Rizk Con (tripping) 11:24,
A. Picard-Hooper Mcg (hooking) 11:24,
BENCH Con (unsportsmanlike cnd.) 11:55,
L. Van Wieren Con (tripping) 11:55,
E. L’Italien Mcg (slashing) 14:15,
A. Sciangula Con (roughing) 19:48


THIRD PERIOD:
Scoring -
(none)

Penalties -
M. Kovacevic Mcg (kneeing) 4:29,
J. Goodsell Con (roughing) 17:43,
B. Gazdic Mcg (roughing, unsportsmanlike cnd.) 17:43

OVERTIME (5-min. period)
Scoring -
(none)

Penalties -
(none)

SHOOTOUT
Round 1 - CON - Nicolas Lafontaine - No
Round 1 - MCG - Guillaume Doucet - Yes
Round 2 - CON - Corey ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûis - No
Round 2 - MCG - Simon Marcotte-Legare - Yes

SHOTS BY PERIOD:
CON: 7 - 8 - 9 - 0 - 0 -- 24
MCG: 7 - 16 - 14 - 2 - 1 -- 40

GOALS BY PERIOD:
CON: 1 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 3
MCG: 0 - 3- 0 - 0 - 1 -- 4

POWER PLAY CONVERSION:
Concordia 1-5.
ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û 1-5.

PENALTIES:
Concordia 10-28.
ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û 9-18.

GOALTENDERS:
Concordia
Maxime Joyal [SL, 9-4-2], 65:00, SV: 36, GA: 3


ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û
Danny Mireault [W, 7-4-1], 65:00, SV: 21 GA: 3

Start : 7:04 PM
End : 9:32 PM
Attendance : 633
Referee: Dominic Bedard

MOLSON CUP THREE STARS
1. Eric L’Italien, ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û
2. Evan Vossen, ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û
3. Nicolas D’Aoust, Concordia


McGILL LINEUP SCRATCHES:
---------------------------------
G Jake Jarvis
G Kevin Desfosses (dressed but DNP)
G Hubert Morin
D Spencer Brennan
D Ben Morse
D Glenn Tindle
F Benoit Arsenault (eye)
F Francis Verrault-Paul (serving suspension)
F Tim Drager