RECAP: Gee-Gees become first OUA team to clinch playoff berth this season following win over Carleton

Following a pair of heart-wrenching defeats to the Carleton Ravens in November, the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men's hockey team pushed distractions aside as they skated to a 6-3 win over the Ravens on Friday night at the Minto Sports Complex.

 In the process, they became the first team to clinch a spot in the 2019 Queen's Cup playoffs. The Gee-Gees have already earned 34 points in 19 games this year with a record of 16-1-2.

 Offence from the blue line was the focal point on Friday night, with poor Carleton coverages high in the zone offering plenty of time and space for Gee-Gees defenders.

 Michael Poirier scored two goals, setting a new career-high with six goals on the year, while Cody Van Lierop and Médric Mercier also contributed from the backend.

 "Obviously it's huge to get four goals from your defencemen," said Gee-Gees head coachPatrick Grandmaître following the game.

 Grandmaître also touted the success of the power play unit in the contest, which connected on three of seven chances.

 "It's so important to get our power play going. We're first in goals for, we've conceded the fewest goals against — but our power play is middle of the pack," he explained. "Tonight to chip in with three goals on the power play, it was very crucial."

 A pair of early power plays initially backfired for the Garnet and Grey, as they turned over the puck at the blue line and conceded a shorthanded goal against while up five-on-three. The goal marked the first shorthanded goal the Gee-Gees had given up this year.

 "We really liked our game prior to going down by one. We hoped to keep the pace and the power play would start clicking," said Grandmaître. "A goal against on a five-on-three can be deflating, but our five-on-five play kept things positive as we took it to them at the start of the game."

 Momentum gradually swung in Ottawa's favour. Poirier tied the game midway through the frame, while a power play goal from Mercier gave the Gee-Gees a lead they would never relinquish. 

Yvan Mongo scored a shorthanded goal to push a two-goal lead, though Carleton would notch another before time expired in the first period to cut the deficit.

 Poirier second of the night came on the power play late in the second period, while Van Lierop scored 43 seconds into the third period to place Ottawa firmly in the drivers' seat with a 5-2 lead. The teams would exchange goals later in the third to round out the scoring, with Kevin Domingue scoring his 14th of the year on the power play.

 Up next, Ottawa heads to Concordia tomorrow to take on the Stingers at Ed Meagher Arena in Montreal. The two teams have met once so far this year, with Ottawa storming to an 8-1 win on home ice on November 17. Puck drop is set for 7:30 and will be streaming live on OUA.tv.

 —Cameron Penney