Leclerc looms large as McGill muffles Pats Feb 27, 08 Ice Hockey (M)

By Earl Zukerman

TROIS-RIVIERES – Mathieu Leclerc, a senior from Ste. Foy, Que., scored the game-winner and added an assist as the visiting McGill Redmen stunned No.5-ranked UQTR 4-1 in the opening game of the OUA East conference men’s hockey final series, Wednesday.

The Redmen power play went 3-for-10 in a game that marked McGill’s 100th lifetime playoff affair since 1910. It was only the team’s fourth-ever post-season victory in 19 tries at Trois-Rivieres.

The Redmen, who have a 4-2-0 record against the Pats this season, now find themselves only one victory shy of a berth at the CIS national championship tournament. A win in Game 2 of the best-of-three series, slated for Friday night at McConnell Arena (7 p.m.), would give the Redmen their second conference title in three years and qualify McGill for berths at both the OUA Queen’s Cup championship (March 8) and the CIS Nationals in Moncton, March 20-24

If a third contest is needed, it is scheduled for Sunday night back at Le Colisée in Trois-Rivieres.

Leclerc, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound forward, set up Montrealer Guillaume Doucet with a man-advantage at 5:36 of the opening period on a play that knocked Patriotes starting netminder Sylvain Michaud out of the game. Michaud, a sophomore from Repentigny, Que., who posted a 15-4-0 record in regular season play, took a hard Sam Bloom slapshot off his right collarbone a minute earlier, gave way to understudy Olivier Laliberté, a rookie from Granby, Que., who was saddled with the loss.

Leclerc then put the Redmen ahead 2-0 on another power play at 16:03 of the second.

McGill exploded twice in a span of 80 seconds early in the third stanza on markers by sophomore Benoit Arsenault of Rimouski, Que., and Bloom, both of whom notched their fourth goal in five post-season games.

Pats’ rookie Alexandre Demers spoiled the shutout bid by Gatineau, Que., native Mathieu Poitras, when he deflected a shot from the point for a power play with just over seven minutes remaining.

The shots ended up even at 26-26 as Poitras made 25 saves to earn a school record fifth straight playoff victory. The five wins also tied the team record for most playoff wins in a year, set by Maurice Powers (5-2-3) in 1930-31 and matched by Poitras (5-3-0) in 2005-06.

REDMEN RAP: McGill improved to 30-12-0 overall, matching their school record win total in 2005-06 when they went 30-8-3… The three-goal margin of victory was McGill’s largest ever playoff win in Trois-Rivieres and matched the spread of their previous best at home, a 6-3 post-season conquest over the Pats at McConnell Arena, March 9, 2005.

OUA East Conference Best-of-three Finals – Game 1

SCORING SUMMARY

McGill 4 at UQTR 1

Feb 27, 2008

FIRST PERIOD

Scoring:
1. McGill, Guillaume Doucet (2) (E. L’Italien, M. Leclerc) 5:36 (PP)

Penalties:
UQT - S. Bellefleur (hooking) 3:38
McG - D. Urquhart (interference) 6:33
UQT - J. Boutin (hooking) 11:31
McG - V. Lambert (interference) 15:31

SECOND PERIOD

Scoring:
2. McGill, Mathieu Leclerc (3) (D. Urquhart, L. Allaire) 16:03 (PP)

Penalties:
McG - S. Pearce (holding) 6:39
McG - S. Shewchuk (interference) 9:22
UQT - A. Joanisse (interference) 15:01
UQT - J. Boutin (interference) 17:25
McG - M. Poitras (interference; served by S. Shewchuk) 17:41
McG - S. Courcelles (slashing) 19:16

THIRD PERIOD

Scoring:
3. McGill, Benoit Arsenault (4) (S. Shewchuk, K. Morin) 1:05
4. McGill, Sam Bloom (4) (S. Shewchuk, K. Morin) 2:25 (PP)
5. UQTR, Alexandre Demers (4) (J. Breton, A. Joanisse) 12:42 (PP)

Penalties:
UQT - A. Demers (illegal equipment) 0:41
McG - B. Gazdic (slashing) 3:29
UQT - S. Beland (roughing) 4:42
UQT - A. Demers (charging) 9:32
McG - Y. Turcotte (interference) 12:19
UQT - M. Gravel (inter. on goaltender) 14:37
McG - B. Gazdic (10-min. misconduct) 15:40
McG - K. Morin (roughing) 15:40
UQT - T. Lafontaine (roughing) 15:40
UQT - K. Petit (slashing) 15:40
McG - Bench (too many men) 16:37
UQT - J. Boutin (cross checking) 18:53

SHOTS BY PERIOD:
McG 7 8 11 -- 26
UQT 5 10 11 -- 26

GOALS BY PERIOD:
McG 1 1 2 -- 4
UQT 0 0 1 -- 1

POWER PLAYS:
McG 3-10
UQT 1-9

PENALTIES (No./Mins.):
McG 11-30
UQT 11-22

GOALTENDERS:

McGill
Mathieu Poitras W [5-0-0] SV: 25, GA: 1, 60:00 Mins

UQTR
Sylvain Michaud Start [injd] SV: 2, GA: 1, 5:36 Mins
Olivier Laliberte L [0-1-0] SV: 20, GA: 3, 54:24 Mins

Referee: Mathieu Coté

Attendance : 612

MOLSON CUP THREE STARS:
1. Mathieu Leclerc, McGill
2. Guillaume Doucet, McGill
3. Ken Morin, McGill

McGILL LINEUP SCRATCHES:
-------------------------------------------
G: Jean-Michel Filiatrault (dressed but DNP)
G: Jake Jarvis
D: Erik Stilling (shoulder)
F: Len Verrilli
F: Charles Gauthier (concussion)
F: Simon Marcotte
F: Jeremy Burgess