RECAP: Gee-Gees split overtime thrillers with Patriotes on home ice

The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men's hockey team skated away with three points over the weekend, winning a game in overtime against the UQTR Patriotes, then dropping an overtime decision the following night.

The win, Ottawa's 17th of the season, marked the second straight season the team was able to eclipse the previous season's win total — following a 15 win season in 2016-17 and a 16 win season in 2017-18.

Offence came quickly in the first game on Friday night, with the two teams combining for two goals each across a span of 10 minutes. Special teams were key for the Gee-Gees, with the first two goal coming from Kevin Domingue and Cody Drover on the power play, and the team finished three-for-seven on the night

"Every following power play they were making adjustments and we were trying to figure out how to break that town," said Gee-Gees head coach Patrick Grandmaître. "Hockey is a game of chess — you're always adjusting strategies … we'll go back to the drawing board tonight and come up with something special."

Each side tallied an additional goal in the second and third frames, with Domingue registering his second power play goal of the night, and Jacob Sweeney scoring his fourth of the season.

In overtime, a UQTR shot was stopped by goaltender Graham Hunt and deflected into the corner. Fresh off donating blood as part of the national Hockey Gives Blood campaign earlier in the week, Captain Eric Locke raced up ice with a head of steam, and buried the shot through the five hole to clinch a Gee-Gees victory. 

Following the game, Ottawa keyed in on the top line on UQTR, and knew to succeed for a second straight night, they'd need to shut the trio down.

For 59 minutes, they did just that — skating to a 3-1 lead. UQTR pulled their goalie for the extra attacker, and clawed back with goals 17 seconds apart to tie the game.

While both sides exchanged chances and rushes in the extra frame, it was the Patriotes' final shot that sealed the victory this time around.

"I thought we played better than yesterday. At six-on-five, anything can happen," Grandmaître said. "It's a good learning experience, we haven't faced that much adversity this year — it can't be all roses and rainbows all the time."

"Tonight we did a great job, they had nothing until the last two goals there," he said. "Six-on-five is a different type of game where you can't be as aggressive. Basically it's reviewing that in practice, five-on-five was good, and overtime, it can go either way."

With four regular season games against the rival Patriotes in the books, the Gee-Gees were able to collect seven of eight points (3-0-1) on the year.

Up next, Ottawa will travel to Kingston on Friday night to visit the RMC Paladins at Constantine Arena. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m. For up to the minute updates, tune in on OUA.tv or follow along on Twitter at @GeeGeesMHKY.

— Cameron Penney