RECAP: Women’s hockey narrowly edged by McGill in game one

Indiscipline proved costly for the Gee-Gees women's hockey team Thursday evening, as two powerplay goals from the McGill Martlets were the difference in a 3-1 game at McConnell Arena in Montreal.

McGill went 2-for-7 on the powerplay, taking the lead in the best-of-three RSEQ semi-final series. The winner of the series will play in the RSEQ final and clinch a spot in the U SPORTS National Championship.

The Martlets got the opening goal midway through the first period. A tight angle shot from Lea Dumais on the powerplay was tipped into the low slot, and Jade Downie-Landry found the puck and slotted it into the net.

Although McGill had the advantage on the scoreboard, there were opportunities at either end, with the home side having a 15-10 advantage in shots.

Ottawa had a quick response in the second period. Less than five minutes in, Mélodie Bouchard teed up Mélina Roy for a one-timer. The captain's blast found the back of the net, leveling the score and serving as her second career playoff goal. Bouchard snapped a two-season long pointless streak in the playoffs by earning the helper.

The teams would be deadlocked for the next period and a half, with Ottawa netminder Aurélie Dubuc standing tall and making 34 saves in the game. Dubuc thwarted several quality McGill scoring chances down the stretch in her U SPORTS postseason debut.

With the teams on the cusp of overtime, the Gee-Gees took a late penalty, giving McGill their seventh man advantage of the game. It was Downie-Landry who earned her second of the contest, slamming it past Dubuc with Dumais and Kate Devries earning assists.

Marika Labrecque added an empty netter to close out the game. The visitors earned just seven shots in the final frame, being handcuffed by three penalties.

Goaltender Tricia Deguire made 21 saves in a winning effort, outduelling Dubuc's 34 stops.

McGill boasted the best special teams in the RSEQ in the regular season, and they paid dividends Thursday evening. In addition to going 2-for-7 on the powerplay, the Martlets were a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.

Ottawa and McGill have met ten times previously in the playoffs, with McGill winning nine of those series. The Gee-Gees lone victory came in 2004.

The series now shifts to Ottawa, where the Gee-Gees will attempt to keep their season alive. Game two of the best-of-three series goes Saturday, February 22 at the Minto Sports Complex. Puck drop is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. If necessary, a third and deciding game will be played in Montreal the next day.