No.2-Hockey Redmen extend undefeated streak to 13 Jan 06, 06 Ice Hockey (M)

By Earl Zukerman

MONTREAL -- Senior Benoit Martin of Gaspé, Que., scored twice and added an assist as No. 2-ranked McGill came from behind to double Ottawa 4-2 in university hockey, Friday.

Defencemen David Urquhart of Thorold, Ont., and Louis-Simon Allaire of Sherbrooke, Que., rounded out the scoring for the Redmen, which improved to 11-0-2. Including a win in their final regular season game last season, the Redmen have a 14-game undefeated streak in OUA play (12-0-2).

Paul Gauthier and Jerome Brière replied for the Gee-Gees, which evened their record at 7-7-1 (including an overtime loss).

Trailing 1-0 after one period, the Redmen tallied twice in 13 seconds early in the middle stanza and never looked back. Martin netted his fourth of the season at 1:39 and Allaire gave McGill a 2-1 lead at 1:52. Urquhart made it 3-1 with the eventual game-winner with 1:17 remaining in the second.

Gauthier gave the Gee-Gees a glimmer of hope when he scored at 2:02 of the third but Martin iced it in the final second after winning a key face-off in his own zone and banking the puck off the boards and into the empty Ottawa net.

McGill held a 28-24 edge in shots as netminder Mathieu Poitras of Gatineau, Que., improved his record to 8-0-1. The 21-year-old engineering sophomore leads the CIS in shutouts (4), goals-against average (1.43) and save percentage (.944).

Mathieu Blanchard, making his first start of the season for the Gee-Gees after recovering from a broken hand suffered in training camp, took the loss.

McGill will attempt to extend their undefeated streak on Friday, Jan. 13 when they host Concordia in the annual McGill Winter Carnival Game.

GAME NOTES: Former Montreal Canadiens netminder Rick Wamsley, who now serves as a goaltender coach with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, was scouting the game. “I’m here to see a goalie and it is not the guy in the Ottawa net,” Wamsley told Le Journal de Montreal… Urquhart, a sophomore blueliner, had two points in the game and is the second-leading point-getter among OUA rearguards with 4-11-15 in 13 games (York’s Jon Hedberg leads with 5-12-17 in 14GP)… McGill lineup scratches were: F Shawn Shewchuk (strep throat), D Erik Stilling, D David Gasser, F Teddy Kyres and F Daniel Pharand… McGill is 16-4-2 overall and remains undefeated at McConnell Arena (5-0-2 overall)… The Redmen have trailed in only three of their 13 OUA contests – all against Ottawa – but have come back to win two and tie the other… Of 41 periods played, McGill has won 23, lost four and tied 14… The Redmen have allowed a CIS lowest total 15 goals in 13 games, including 10 at even-strength... The Redmen have won all eight road games in OUA play and need one more to tie the team record for the longest win streak on the road (9 games, a mark which has stood since 1936-37).

SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST PERIOD:
1. Ottawa - Jerome Briere 4 (P. Gauthier, B. McLeod) - 13:39 (PP)

Penalties:
McGill - C. Churchill-Smith (Trip), 4:08
Ottawa - D. Macdonald (Interfere), 4:37
Ottawa - M. Nicoletti (Hook), 7:07
McGill - K. Davis (Slash), 7:53
McGill - D. Urquhart (Hold), 12:59
Ottawa - M. Barrett (Cross-check), 16:19
McGill - D. Urquhart (Rough), 17:08
Ottawa - C. Macdonald (Helmet Violation), 17:08

SECOND PERIOD:
2. McGill - Benoit Martin 4 (C. Gauthier, D. Urquhart) - 1:39
3. McGill - Louis-Simon Allaire 2 (M. Leclerc, K. Davis) - 1:52
4. McGill - David Urquhart 4 (B. Martin, D. Orr) - 19:43

Penalties:
McGill - K. Davis (Slash), 2:21
Ottawa - M. Barrett (Slash), 3:39
Ottawa - J. Smith (Rough), 6:16

THIRD PERIOD:
5. Ottawa - Paul Gauthier 1 (B. Triantafilos, D. Bliss) - 2:02
6. McGill - Benoit Martin 5 (unassisted) - 19:59 (ENG)

Penalties:
Ottawa - P.A LeBlanc (Slash), 5:34
McGill - D. Urquhart (Slash), 10:47
Ottawa - J. Briere (High Stick), 11:54

PENALTIES (no./minutes)
Ottawa: 8/16
McGill: 6/12

POWER PLAY (goals/chances)
Ottawa: 1/5
McGill: 0/7

GOALS BY PERIOD
Ottawa: 1 0 1 (2)
McGill: 0 3 1 (4)

SHOTS BY PERIOD
Ottawa: 8 6 10 (24)
McGill: 7 13 8 (28)

GOALTENDERS:
Ottawa:
Mathieu Blanchard (L, 0-1-0; 3GA, 24 saves, 58:12)
Empty-net (1GA, 1:48)

McGill:
Mathieu Poitras (W; 8-0-1; 2GA, 22 saves, 60:00)

MOLSON CUP THREE STARS:
1. Benoit Martin (2 goals, 1 assist), McGill
2. David Urquhart (1 goal, 1 assist), McGill
3. Paul Gauthier (1 goal, 1 assist), Ottawa

Referee: Gavin White

Attendance: 672

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
(514) 398-7012