February 12, 2006
POITRAS SETS CIS SHUTOUT RECORD
OTTAWA - Mathieu Poitras made 26 saves and established a Canadian University single-season shutout record as No. 2-ranked McGill blanked the Gee-Gees 2-0 in Ottawa, Saturday.
Marko Kovacevic, a freshman from Serbia, scored the game winner at 2:15 of the second period and junior Lucas Madill of Beaconsfield, Que., added a shorthanded marker at 12:46 of the third.
The win extended McGill's undefeated streak to eight (7-0-1) and stopped Ottawa's seven-game unbeaten streak. It was a CIS record 12th shutout in 23 games for the Redmen, who improved to 19-1-3. Eight of their shutouts have occurred on the road, another CIS first.
Poitras, a 22-year-old native of Gatineau, Que., posted his seventh whitewash of the campaign, snapping the CIS single-season record set by Chuck Goddard of Saint Mary's in 1972-73 and equaled by Luc Belanger of UQTR in 1997-98.
Poitras, who won CIS rookie of the year honours last season, improved to 14-1-2 and leads the nation in goals-against average (1.40), save percentage (.947), shutouts (7) and wins (14).
With one game yet to play and only 26 goals allowed in 23 games, McGill lowered their team goals-against average to 1.13, the lowest total in CIS history. The previous Canadian university record was also held by McGill, dating back to the 1937-38 season, when they posted a 1.50 GAA in a 10-game season. In the post-war era, Alberta had had the best GAA, with a 1.71 average in 28 games during the 2003-04 campaign.
The Redmen will close out regular season play against UQTR (16-5-2), Sunday night at McConnell Arena (7 p.m.). McGill is 1-1-1 in three league games against the Pats (including a 2-0 shutout by Poitras) and also won a pre-season affair by a 4-1 score.
For the second straight year, McGill (19-1-3) and Western (20-2-1) have come down to the last game to determine the overall regular season title winner in the OUA. Last year, they finished tied with 35 points apiece but McGill had one fewer loss. This year, both teams have 41 points in the standings, heading into Sunday's games. The Mustangs, who defeated Lakehead 4-2 on Saturday, will play them again on Sunday afternoon at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ont. Normally, the overall title would assure the top team of having home-ice advantage through out the OUA playoffs, but the OUA regulations stipulate that the Queen's Cup championship game is to be played at the home of the highest-seeded Ontario team.
REDMEN GAME NOTES: Ken Davis picked up an assist on Kovacevic's winning goal against the Gee-Gees, extending his point-scoring streak to five games with a 3-4-7 mark during that span... Redmen scoring leader Shawn Shewchuk left the game after the first period with an unspecified injury and did not return... McGill lineup scratches included C Doug Orr and D Yan Turcotte (both injured), plus rookie centres Guillaume Demers and Daniel Pharand... The Molson Cup 3 Stars were all from McGill: 1. Goaltender Mathieu Poitras (26 saves, 7th shutout), 2. Forward Marko Kovacevic (1 goal, 3 shots, 3 hits, +1) and 3. Defenceman Erik Stilling (1 assist, 1 shot, +1, 10 hits)... The playoffs begin next week and McGill has qualified for post-season play for the 20th time in the last 23 years but have earned a first-round bye after finishing atop their division ... McGill, which extended their undefeated streak against Ottawa to 5-0-1, have a lifetime mark of 69-68-10 against the Gee-Gees, outscoring them by a 601-572 margin...In Ottawa, the Redmen are 36-25-3 lifetime... Spotted in the crowd was Redmen alumnus Rick Walker, who played for McGill in the late 1960s.
SCORING SUMMARY
Redmen 2, Gee-Gees 0
(@ Ottawa Sports Complex)
FIRST PERIOD:
(no scoring)
Penalties:
Ottawa - B. McLEOD (Cross), 4:39
McGill - K. MORIN (Trip), 5:38
Ottawa - B. TRIANTAFILOS (Slash), 8:36
McGill - K. MORIN (High-stick), 8:36
McGill - S. BLOOM (Rough), 19:23
SECOND PERIOD:
1. McGill - Marko Kovacevic 8 (Erik Stilling, Ken Davis) - 2:25
Penalties:
Ottawa - J. SMITH (Hook), 6:21
Ottawa - BENCH (Too many men), 8:02
McGill - C. GAUTHIER (Interefere), 12:58
Ottawa - D. MCDONALD (goalie interfere), 13:33
McGill - ALLAIRE (Rough), 13:33
Ottawa - K. GLODE (Rough), 13:33
McGill - E. L'ITALIEN (Rough), 13:33
McGill - K. MORIN (Hold), 16:05
McGill - M. KOVACEVIC (Charge), 19:44
THIRD PERIOD:
2. McGill - Lucas Madill 6 (Benoit Martin, Steven Pearce) - 12:46 (SH)
Penalties:
Ottawa - D. McDONALD (Slash), 0:04
Ottawa - B. McLEOD (Hook), 5:08
McGill - S. PEARCE (Slash), 5:38
Ottawa - C. KEITH (Trip), 8:40
McGill - P.A. PAQUET (Cross-check), 12:01
GOALTENDERS:
McGill:
Mathieu Poitras (W, 14-1-2; 60:00, 0GA, 26 saves, SHO-7)
Ottawa:
Mathieu Blanchard (L, 5-2-1; 60:00, 2GA, 23 saves)
GOALS BY PERIOD
McGill: 0 1 1 (2)
Ottawa: 0 0 0 (0)
SHOTS BY PERIOD
McGill: 5 11 9 (25)
Ottawa: 10 6 10 (26)
PENALTIES (No./Minutes):
McGill: 10/20
Ottawa: 9/18
POWER PLAYS (goals/chances):
McGill: 10/6 (+1 SHG for)
Ottawa: 0/7
MOLSON CUP THREE STARS:
1. Mathieu Poitras, McGill
2. Marko Kovacevic, McGill
3. Erik Stilling, McGill
ATTENDANCE: 400
REFEREE: Chad White
(Source: Earl Zukerman, McGill Communications Officer & Webmaster)
Marko Kovacevic, a freshman from Serbia, scored the game winner at 2:15 of the second period and junior Lucas Madill of Beaconsfield, Que., added a shorthanded marker at 12:46 of the third.
The win extended McGill's undefeated streak to eight (7-0-1) and stopped Ottawa's seven-game unbeaten streak. It was a CIS record 12th shutout in 23 games for the Redmen, who improved to 19-1-3. Eight of their shutouts have occurred on the road, another CIS first.
Poitras, a 22-year-old native of Gatineau, Que., posted his seventh whitewash of the campaign, snapping the CIS single-season record set by Chuck Goddard of Saint Mary's in 1972-73 and equaled by Luc Belanger of UQTR in 1997-98.
Poitras, who won CIS rookie of the year honours last season, improved to 14-1-2 and leads the nation in goals-against average (1.40), save percentage (.947), shutouts (7) and wins (14).
With one game yet to play and only 26 goals allowed in 23 games, McGill lowered their team goals-against average to 1.13, the lowest total in CIS history. The previous Canadian university record was also held by McGill, dating back to the 1937-38 season, when they posted a 1.50 GAA in a 10-game season. In the post-war era, Alberta had had the best GAA, with a 1.71 average in 28 games during the 2003-04 campaign.
The Redmen will close out regular season play against UQTR (16-5-2), Sunday night at McConnell Arena (7 p.m.). McGill is 1-1-1 in three league games against the Pats (including a 2-0 shutout by Poitras) and also won a pre-season affair by a 4-1 score.
For the second straight year, McGill (19-1-3) and Western (20-2-1) have come down to the last game to determine the overall regular season title winner in the OUA. Last year, they finished tied with 35 points apiece but McGill had one fewer loss. This year, both teams have 41 points in the standings, heading into Sunday's games. The Mustangs, who defeated Lakehead 4-2 on Saturday, will play them again on Sunday afternoon at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ont. Normally, the overall title would assure the top team of having home-ice advantage through out the OUA playoffs, but the OUA regulations stipulate that the Queen's Cup championship game is to be played at the home of the highest-seeded Ontario team.
REDMEN GAME NOTES: Ken Davis picked up an assist on Kovacevic's winning goal against the Gee-Gees, extending his point-scoring streak to five games with a 3-4-7 mark during that span... Redmen scoring leader Shawn Shewchuk left the game after the first period with an unspecified injury and did not return... McGill lineup scratches included C Doug Orr and D Yan Turcotte (both injured), plus rookie centres Guillaume Demers and Daniel Pharand... The Molson Cup 3 Stars were all from McGill: 1. Goaltender Mathieu Poitras (26 saves, 7th shutout), 2. Forward Marko Kovacevic (1 goal, 3 shots, 3 hits, +1) and 3. Defenceman Erik Stilling (1 assist, 1 shot, +1, 10 hits)... The playoffs begin next week and McGill has qualified for post-season play for the 20th time in the last 23 years but have earned a first-round bye after finishing atop their division ... McGill, which extended their undefeated streak against Ottawa to 5-0-1, have a lifetime mark of 69-68-10 against the Gee-Gees, outscoring them by a 601-572 margin...In Ottawa, the Redmen are 36-25-3 lifetime... Spotted in the crowd was Redmen alumnus Rick Walker, who played for McGill in the late 1960s.
SCORING SUMMARY
Redmen 2, Gee-Gees 0
(@ Ottawa Sports Complex)
FIRST PERIOD:
(no scoring)
Penalties:
Ottawa - B. McLEOD (Cross), 4:39
McGill - K. MORIN (Trip), 5:38
Ottawa - B. TRIANTAFILOS (Slash), 8:36
McGill - K. MORIN (High-stick), 8:36
McGill - S. BLOOM (Rough), 19:23
SECOND PERIOD:
1. McGill - Marko Kovacevic 8 (Erik Stilling, Ken Davis) - 2:25
Penalties:
Ottawa - J. SMITH (Hook), 6:21
Ottawa - BENCH (Too many men), 8:02
McGill - C. GAUTHIER (Interefere), 12:58
Ottawa - D. MCDONALD (goalie interfere), 13:33
McGill - ALLAIRE (Rough), 13:33
Ottawa - K. GLODE (Rough), 13:33
McGill - E. L'ITALIEN (Rough), 13:33
McGill - K. MORIN (Hold), 16:05
McGill - M. KOVACEVIC (Charge), 19:44
THIRD PERIOD:
2. McGill - Lucas Madill 6 (Benoit Martin, Steven Pearce) - 12:46 (SH)
Penalties:
Ottawa - D. McDONALD (Slash), 0:04
Ottawa - B. McLEOD (Hook), 5:08
McGill - S. PEARCE (Slash), 5:38
Ottawa - C. KEITH (Trip), 8:40
McGill - P.A. PAQUET (Cross-check), 12:01
GOALTENDERS:
McGill:
Mathieu Poitras (W, 14-1-2; 60:00, 0GA, 26 saves, SHO-7)
Ottawa:
Mathieu Blanchard (L, 5-2-1; 60:00, 2GA, 23 saves)
GOALS BY PERIOD
McGill: 0 1 1 (2)
Ottawa: 0 0 0 (0)
SHOTS BY PERIOD
McGill: 5 11 9 (25)
Ottawa: 10 6 10 (26)
PENALTIES (No./Minutes):
McGill: 10/20
Ottawa: 9/18
POWER PLAYS (goals/chances):
McGill: 10/6 (+1 SHG for)
Ottawa: 0/7
MOLSON CUP THREE STARS:
1. Mathieu Poitras, McGill
2. Marko Kovacevic, McGill
3. Erik Stilling, McGill
ATTENDANCE: 400
REFEREE: Chad White
(Source: Earl Zukerman, McGill Communications Officer & Webmaster)
