NORTH BAY, Ont. (February 1, 2019) – The No.10 Queen's Gaels (18-7-0) will hold onto the second seed in the OUA East for another night thanks to a 3-2 comeback win over the Nipissing Lakers (7-17-0).
GAME FLOW
It wasn't the type of start the Gaels were hoping for against the team they had already beaten twice this season.
On the Lakers' first powerplay opportunity they converted as fittingly enough, Gael Lubwele got his Nipissing squad on the board. It was also the first time this season that the Lakers grabbed a lead against Queen's.
The Gaels took three penalties in the opening period which the Lakers were able to take advantage of as with just four seconds remaining in the period, Matt Donnelly capped off a 2-on-1 on the powerplay to give the Lakers a 2-0 on their second powerplay goal of the period.
The second period was quiet offensively from the Lakers as it was the Gaels turn to have their chance at net.
The Gaels sent 23 shots on goal during the period but Lakers goaltender Brent Moran stopped everything that was thrown his way. Meanwhile on the opposite end of the ice the Gaels limited the Lakers to just five shots keeping them in the game for the third period.
Queen's kept their foot on the gas pedal to start the third period as they peppered Moran with 19 more shots.
Midway through the third the Gaels finally managed to get one by the Lakers goaltender as
Patrick Sanvido scored on the powerplay.
Then in the final moments of the game,
Slater Doggett came through with a wrist shot that beat Moran tying the game up 2-2 with under three minutes remaining, setting up a dramatic finish. Doggett is now tied for third in the OUA with 19 goals.
In the dying seconds, the Gaels sent a slapshot wide of the net which bounced off the boards right to
Spencer Abraham. The captain made no mistake and fired the puck into an open cage before Moran could dive back into position. The game-winning goal left just 13 seconds on the clock for the Lakers to work with as the Gaels escaped North Bay with a victory.
CHASING QUEEN'S HISTORY
With winning goal and an assist on Sanvido's goal,
Spencer Abraham brought his career point total to 115, which is now just 1 point behind Aaron Fransen's 116 points for the Gaels all-time points record by a defenceman.
MUST SEE MOMENTS
Slater Doggett continued his goal streak with this shot!
Two words: Spencer. Abraham.
BY THE NUMBERS
54 – The Gaels sent 54 shots on net, which was another challenging night for Lakers' goaltender Brent Moran. In a meeting earlier this season the Gaels scored on Moran seven times on 43 shots.
9 –
Slater Doggett's point streak extends to nine games, he is also on a four-game goal streak. During this stretch Doggett has posted eight goals and seven assists.
1 – The Gaels needed this win to keep pace with McGill for the second seed in the OUA East. They remain tied with the Redmen but with one game in hand. They also sit one point ahead of Carleton who sits in the fourth seed.
UP NEXT
Tomorrow night the Gaels head to Subury, Ont. to take on the Laurentian Voyageurs (7-6-1). Game time is set for 7:30pm and be sure to tune in to OUA.tv to see if
Spencer Abraham can snap Aaron Fransen's record.
Laurentian is currently sitting in the eighth and final playoff spot and will intend on giving the Gaels as difficult a time as they had tonight.
