Matt Dionne | Sports and Health Editor
Featured image: The Lions still have yet to lose this post-season, as they tally their fourth-straight playoff win against Guelph. | Courtesy of York Lions
After sweeping Lakehead in the first round of the playoffs, the Lions advanced to the second round of the Queen’s Cup playoffs this past week.
On Wednesday, the Lions were taking on Guelph in game one of a best-of-three match-up.
It was the Gryphons who opened the scoring under two minutes in, courtesy of MacKenzie Nichol.
In the second, York tied up the score with just seven minutes left in the period. However, the tie was short-lived, as less than a minute later Guelph retook the lead.
The Gryphons’ lead didn’t last nearly as long this time, as Derek Sheppard tied the game in the third, just one minute into the frame. Less than a minute later, it was York who broke the tie to take their first lead of the game.
York’s defence in the third was incredible. They limited Guelph to just four shots in the period, all of which were stopped by Lions goalie and rookie phenom Mack Shields. Though the Lions ended the game with 24 penalty minutes, they came away with the 3-2 win.
Game two took place Thursday in Guelph, and, since the Lions had won the first game, was an elimination game for the Gryphons.
Despite a combined 19 shots in the first, neither team could beat the opposing goalie, and they went into the first intermission scoreless.
However, York came out firing in the second. The Lions opened the scoring less than two minutes in on a power play goal by Greg Milner, assisted by Bryce Milson and Colton Vannucci.
Less than two minutes later, York added some insurance to their lead in the form of Dexter Bricker’s second goal of the post-season, assisted by Vannucci and Nick Zottl.
York would add three more goals in the period, courtesy of Steven Janes, Sheppard and Daniel Nikandrov, to take a 5-0 lead into the final frame.
Guelph would break the shutout six minutes into the third, but York answered just over two minutes later to extend their lead en route to a 6-2 final score that would eliminate the Gryphons. They also avenged the Lions’ soccer team, who fell to Guelph in the playoffs last semester.
The Lions have been red-hot this post-season. They have yet to lose a single game, winning both of their first two series 2-0. York has outscored opponents by a combined score of 15-7 through four games for a +8 goal differential.
With the win, the Lions will advance to the third round of the Queen’s Cup playoffs to face the Windsor Lancers on March 1.
Game two is on March 3, followed by game three on March 4, if necessary.
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