February 19, 2016

Gryphons open playoffs with convincing win over Windsor

GUELPH, ON - Playoff hockey isn't supposed to be easy. But the Guelph Gryphons men's team made it look that way Thursday night. Guelph kicked off the defence of its Queen's Cup championship campaign with a one-sided 6-2 victory over the No. 5 seed Windsor Lancers in game 1 of the best-of-three series at Gryphon Centre Arena.

Guelph

Windsor

Final	1	2	3	T
Guelph	3	1	2	6
Windsor	0	1	1	2

Guelph

Windsor

Final	1	2	3	T
Guelph	3	1	2	6
Windsor	0	1	1	2

GUELPH, ON - Playoff hockey isn't supposed to be easy. But the Guelph Gryphons men's team made it look that way Thursday night. Guelph kicked off the defence of its Queen's Cup championship campaign with a one-sided 6-2 victory over the No. 5 seed Windsor Lancers in game 1 of the best-of-three series at Gryphon Centre Arena.

Guelph, the No. 4 seed in the OUA playoffs, was dominant from the opening face off. Head coach Shawn Camp loved his team's fast start but he was most proud of how his players maintained focus throughout the 60 minutes in a pressure-packed environment.

"We played like we've been practicing, with great tempo," said Camp. "The guys have been executing in practice. They have a fun time and they carried that into the game tonight, playing with pace and executing well."

The hosts overwhelmed the Lancers early and scored three goals in the first period before adding another just 18 seconds into the second.

"That was our game plan," Carlos Amestoy said of the fast start. "Coach wanted us to come out flying and use our speed to our advantage."

The offence had been clicking in the last four games of the regular season and Guelph continued that production in game 1. Kyle Neuber scored twice, while Rob De Fulviis and Amestoy each had a goal and two assists. Thomas Kohler and Cody Thompson also scored.

Andrew D'Agostini was solid on the night, stopping 26 of the 27 shots he faced. The first puck that got by him was on a deflection, while the second came late in third with the game in hand. The second-year Scarborough native made a big save late in the second period with the score 4-1, kicking out his right pad on a low shot that would have given the Lancers a bit more hope had it found a way into the net.

"It starts from the back end," Amestoy said, crediting D'Agostini and the defence for the success the Gryphons had on the offensive end. "We get tremendous goaltending and the transition from the D is phenomenal. Everything starts in our own zone."

The Gryphons produced an incredible first period. They had a few good rushes in the opening minutes of the game and it didn't take long for them to start cashing in on chances. Reilly O'Connor broke in down the right wing and unloaded a shot that Blake Richard saved but the rebound went right to Amestoy, who made no mistake with a hard one-timer for the opening goal at 3:41.

Guelph didn't sit back and they upped the lead to 2-0 when Kohler scored on a big point shot at 5:45.

Neuber made it 3-0 at 16:17, his first of the night. He found some open ice on the right wing and banged his stick, loudly calling for the puck. Robert Lepine spotted him and sprung the big man for a breakaway that he would finish with style. It ended up being the game-winning goal.

"Kyle is clear with his linemates about where he's going to be," Camp said of the vocal veteran.

But Neuber was hungry for more. Just 18 seconds into the second period, the puck came right to the Sarnia native and with Richard out of position, he blasted one into an empty net for a commanding 4-0 lead.

Windsor had a chance to get some momentum back midway through the second. Scott Prier scored at 11:52 of the period to get the visitors on the board. They had a power play opportunity immediately after but couldn't cash in.

De Fulviis connected on a one-timer on the power play at 2:06 of the third to put the game out of reach at 5-1. It got chippier after that as Windsor's frustration grew. Ryan Green was ejected after being assessed a boarding major for running a Gryphon right near the Guelph bench.

Sebastian Beauregard added a late goal for Windsor on a pretty backhander that he slid behind D'Agostini. But Thompson scored into an empty net 1:31 after Windsor's tally.

Game 2 is in Windsor on Saturday. The puck drops at 7:30 pm.

"It'll be a war," said Amestoy. "We're looking forward to it."

NOTES:
- Guelph finished 2-for-8 on the power play
- The Gryphons had 38 shots
- Lepine was credited with two assists