RECAP: Win streak snapped in shootout loss to Stingers

While momentum appeared to favour the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men's hockey team thought the contest, they fell just short in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Concordia Stingers in Montreal.

 Heading into the contest on a six game win streak, the Garnet and Grey jumped out to a 2-0 lead though the first 20 minutes, but skated a way with a single point following the Stingers' comeback.

 "I thought it was one of those games where we controlled a lot of the play tonight," Head Coach Patrick Grandmaître said following the game. "We didn't score on our power play and they got one, sometimes that's the difference maker in a tight game. We got a point, so we don't lose too much ground on anybody, plenty of positives to take away."

 Despite the loss, the Gee-Gees closed out one of their toughest four-game stretches on the schedule with plenty of positives. Ottawa took on the four divisional rivals McGill, UQTR, Carleton and Concordia, and collected seven of a possible eight points.

 Ottawa's pair of goals came within a five-minute span midway through the first period. Mathieu Newcomb scored on a quick shot from a bad angle, while linemate Connor Sills deflected a Médric Mercier point shot to place the Gee-Gees firmly in the drivers' seat.

 "Our third and fourth line were really good tonight. They chipped in with two goals. Sometimes the top scorers don't stay hot, they had chances, Kevin Domingue hit a crossbar," Grandmaître said.

 Concordia continued to battle relentlessly on the forecheck and were eventually rewarded with a goal midway through the second period to cut the deficit. With seven players added over the holiday break, the Stingers' were a much different squad than the one Ottawa took down 8-1 earlier in the season.

 With a 95-percent success rate over the previous six games, the Ottawa penalty killers had been among the best in the league as of late. Disciplined play meant the Gee-Gees didn't even need to kill a penalty until the third period, though this time they were unsuccessful as Concordia needed only six seconds to convert and tie the game.

 "We felt in control, the power play goal is a point shot off a screen. It wasn't a breakdown on our part — that's hockey," Grandmaître said.

 Ottawa continued to push the pace of play in the extra frame, with solid chances generated by Yvan Mongo and Matt Dunlop, while Graham Hunt snuffed out any attack at the other end of the ice.

In the shootout, Ottawa turned to skilled snipers Domingue, Brendan Jacome, and Mongo, though none could match Concordia's Philippe Sanche to extend the shootout.

 Since winning shootout against Carleton and Waterloo early in the season, the Gee-Gees have now lost three straight.

 Up next, Ottawa will host the UQTR Patriotes for a pair of home games on Friday, January 18 at 7:30, and Saturday, January 19 at 7:00. Grab tickets ahead of the game at tickets.geegees.ca

 — Cameron Penney