The streak has hit eight

January 28, 2012 - Playing the second of two games on back-to-back days, the Mount Royal Cougars men’s hockey team ran its winning streak to eight games, defeating the Portage College Voyageurs 4-3 in overtime. The win comes one night after the Cougars registered a 3-2 win over Portage.

With the win, the Cougars improve to 19-1-2, good enough for a seven point lead over SAIT for first place in the ACAC as of press time. SAIT plays host to NAIT later this evening.

Saturday’s game started very differently from that of the previous night, where the Cougars fell behind 2-0 early before storming back with three consecutive goals to take the win. In the latest affair, the Cougars got on the board quickly, only 32 seconds into the first period thanks to a goal from Brad Goss, his first of two on the afternoon and fifth of the season.

On the play, Goss fired a puck high past the glove hand of Portage goalie Kyle Birch. The puck hit the crossbar and bounced behind Birch before inadvertently being knocked into the net by Voyageurs defenceman Brent Wilson.

Portage would knot the contest at one less than two minutes later as Tim Crawley fired a low shot just inside the post and past the outstretched pad of Cougars goalie Justin Cote. Mount Royal would retake the lead under a minute later on pretty play from defencman Justin Daigle. Dagile grabbed the puck just inside the Portage blueline, weaved around an opposition player and fired a shot just inside the far post.

The Cougars lead after the first period 2-1 and outshot Portage 15-11.

Mount Royal would take a two-goal lead at 4:44 of the second period thanks to captain Darnell Glass. Glass gathered the puck along the boards, moved to the face-off dot and beat Birch high to the glove side.

“We got a lot of shots, but I don’t think we got a lot of really good scoring chances,” said Glass. “But he (Birch) made a lot of saves tonight and kept them in the game.”

The Voyageurs would then score two consecutive goals to one again tie the game. The first came at the 7:55 mark when Wilson beat Cote high to the blocker side. The tying marker came with 0.7 seconds left in the period on a goal from Matt Gray. After Wilson drew Cote out of position on a wrap-around attempt, he fed the puck to Gray who roofed a shot into the open cage.

While pleased with the win, Cougars head coach Jean Laforest was quick to give credit to Portage.

“We had them at 3-1 and should not have let them back in the game, but I have to give them credit. They took advantage of a couple of mistakes that we made, and our execution was a little so-so at times. But I will give credit where credit is due. They are a tough team to play against,” said Laforest.

The third period was scoreless, but not without chances. Jeff Barrett and Tyler Jewitt nearly broke the deadlock after a two on one break but could not find the back of the net. Cote made a huge glove save of the Voyageurs’ Cody Mapes, who had a several good scoring chances in the period.

Portage would begin overtime with a power-play as Vinny Muchalla had been cited for hooking with 35.2 seconds left in the third period. Just over two minutes into the extra frame, Goss was the recipient of a beautiful pass from Nick Bell and easily scored past Birch.

“I really didn’t have to do a whole lot on that goal,” chuckled Goss. “Bell made a good move and came away with the puck and made a nice pass. I just had to tap it in.”

The Cougars next home game is Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m. when they host Augustana at Flames Community Arenas.