Box Score TORONTO – With Western and Toronto entering triple overtime at Varsity Arena in game one of their OUA playoff series and with goalies
Kelly Campbell and Nicole Kesteris virtually standing on their heads, it appeared as if it would take a miracle for one team to solve the other and break the deadlock.
Unfortunately for the Mustangs, fortune was smiling upon the Varsity Blues on Wednesday night as a harmless looking dump-in from Alie Brind'Amour-McClure took an odd bounce just over four minutes into the third overtime and beat Campbell, giving Toronto a 2-1 victory in game one of the best-of-three OUA Quarterfinal series between the two teams.
Â
Toronto's victory—their first-ever playoff win against Western—comes almost a year to the day after
Katelyn Gosling gave the Blues an early exit from the 2013 OUA playoffs with a goal in double-overtime of game three. That fact surely made the victory just a bit sweeter for the Varsity Blues, although they won't have too much time to let it soak in as the two teams will meet again at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Thompson Arena.
Â
It seems like every time the Winter Olympics roll around, hockey fans are reminded in some way or another of how important a hot goaltender can truly be in a playoff-type atmosphere. Whether it be Dominek Hasek in Nagano, Jonas Hiller for Switzerland in Turin, or Ryan Miller in Vancouver, there is almost always a goaltender who steals the show and gives their team the decisive advantage.
Â
Wednesday night's game between the Mustangs and the Varsity Blues at Varsity Arena may not have been part of the Sochi Olympics but it acted as a more-than-adequate reminder of that trend, as Campbell and Kesteris proved why they're two of the top goaltenders in the OUA as each had a stellar outing for their respective teams. Campbell finished the night with 33 stops in total while Kesteris was right behind her with 30 on the night.
Â
Campbell's contributions through the first two periods cannot be overstated, as she kept the Mustangs in the tight game with a number of excellent saves, allowing a first period power play goal from
Katelyn Gosling to hold up through 40. That goal, Gosling's fifth playoff tally of her Mustangs career, came two minutes into the game with help from
Jessica Sorensen and gave Western an edge for most of the game.
Â
In the third, Campbell was even more impressive, turning aside a game-high eleven shots in the frame. But the Varsity Blues would spoil the party with 2:55 left on the clock, as Alie Brind'Amour-McClure tipped in her sister Courtney's shot for her first of the night to tie the game at one apiece.
Â
That goal sent the two teams to overtime, where they would stay for another two-and-a-quarter frames. Kesteris made a highlight reel save with time winding down in the first overtime to keep the game going, robbing the Mustangs of what seemed like a sure game-winner and extending the game.
Â
That save would pay off big time, as Alie Brind'Amour-McClure ended the game just over four minutes into the third overtime frame. In the end the two goaltenders were on the ice for almost 100 minutes, with both of them logging just over 94 minutes in the contest.
Â
The team's will try and get some rest on Thursday and Friday before facing off again in London on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. game at Thompson Arena. If needed, a third game will be played on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. at Varsity Arena in Toronto.