Final Results
Feb 24, 07 - 19:30

Redmen 0 - Toronto 2
OUA East Best-of-three Semifinals -- Non-conference Game

Game Report by Earl Zukerman

TORONTO – Mark Wright of Etobicoke, Ont., scored at 17:36 of the second period and goaltender Ryan Grinnell of Toronto kicked out 33 shots as Toronto shocked ninth-ranked McGill 2-0 to sweep the OUA East Conference best-of-three semifinal men’s hockey playoff series.

A last-minute shorthanded goal by Simon Barg, into an empty net, rounded out the scoring for the Varsity Blues, who await the winner of the UQTR-Ottawa series, which is knotted at 1-1.

It was the second straight playoff shutout for Grinnell over the Redmen, who were blanked 1-0 in the series opener at McConnell Arena last Wednesday.

McGill had won the regular season series between the two clubs by 3-0 and 11-1 scores.

Sophomore goaltender Jean-Michel Filiatrault, making his third straight playoff start for McGill, had a solid outing but was saddled with the loss. Despite the loss, his lifetime record with the Redmen is an impressive 15-7-2 with eight shutouts.

The Redmen had a 33-29 margin in shots on net but their downfall was an inability to connect on six power plays. They went 0-for-14 in the two games against U of T after connecting on 14 of 23 man advantage situations against Concordia in the quarterfinals.

GAME NOTES – The Redmen, who overachieved last year with a 30-8-3 overall record, fell short of expectations this year, finishing with a 22-15-5 record overall, … Toronto, which is 5-17-4 in their last 26 games against McGill, is 60-32-9 lifetime versus the Red and White and have won seven of the nine playoff series between the teams in a rivalry which dates back to Feb. 20, 1899… A number of former McGill players were in attendance to cheer on the Redmen, including Doug Orr, Chad Blundy, Stephane Angers, Doug Harrison, Steve Mendelssohn and Chris Armstrong, a former team staff member who now works for IMG, the prominent agency for many pro athletes…NOW IT CAN BE TOLD DEPT.: A plethora of injuries hampered the Redmen all season long, including five players who suffered concussions… Among those affected most and missed a significant number of games were power forward Charles Gauthier (missed 42 games with a concussion), D Erik Stilling (concussion) and C Benoit Arseneault (broken leg).

SCORING SUMMARY

Toronto 2 (ENG), McGill 0
(@ Varsity Arena)

FIRST PERIOD:
(no scoring)

Penalties:
McGill - Mathieu Leclerc (Slashing), 1:27
Toronto - Scott Malcolm (Tripping), 4:11
Toronto - Greg Palka (Slashing), 8:00
McGill - Benoit Lessard (Delay Of Game), 10:56
Toronto - Mark Heatley (Elbowing), 13:07

SECOND PERIOD:
1. Toronto - Mark Wright (Joe Rand, Chad Elliott) - 17:36

Penalties:
McGill - Mathieu Leclerc (Tripping), 1:58
Toronto - Mark Heatley (Interference), 5:37

THIRD PERIOD:
2. Toronto - Simon Barg (Mark Heatley) - 19:03 (SHG/ENG)

Penalties:
McGill - Louis Simon Allaire (Slashing), 1:18
Toronto - Chad Elliott (Hooking), 3:51
Toronto - Julian Sarraino (Tripping), 18:08
McGill - Shawn Shewchuck (Cross Checking), 19:44
Toronto - Ryan Grinnell (Roughing), 19:44
Toronto - Brendan Sherrard (Roughing), 19:44

GOALTENDERS:
McGill:
Jean-Michel Filiatrault (L, 1-2; 1GA, 27 saves, 59:15)
Empty-net: (1 GA, 0:45)

Toronto:
Ryan Grinnell (W, 2-0; 0GA, 33 saves, SHO, 60:00)

GOALS BY PERIOD
TEAM; 1 2 3 -- Total
McGill 0 0 0 -- 0
Toronto 0 1 1 -- 2

SHOTS BY PERIOD
TEAM: 1 2 3 -- Total
McGill: 14 11 8 -- 33
Toronto:10 9 10 -- 29

POWER PLAY (Goals / Chances):
McGill: 0/6
Toronto: 0/4

PENALTIES (No. / Minutes):
McGill: 5/10
Toronto: 8/16

REFEREE: (unavailable)

ATTENDANCE: 150

MOLSON CUP THREE STARS:
----------------------------------
1. Ryan Grinnell, Toronto
2. Jean-Michel Filiatrault, McGill
3. Simon Barg, Toronto

McGILL LINEUP SCRATCHES:
------------------------------------------
G: *Jake Jarvis
G: Mathieu Poitras (dressed but DNP)
D: Erik Stilling (injd)
D: Ben Gazdic
F: *Len Verrilli
F: Benoit Arsenault (injd)
F: Charles Gauthier (injd)
F: *Jeremy Burgess

*freshman