GUELPH, Ont. – A pair of early third period goals led the Guelph Gryphons past the Mustangs 3-1 in Game Two of the OUA West Finals on Saturday night.
Nicholas Trecapelli and Leonard Fabbri scored minutes apart to open the third period, helping the Gryphons come back from an early goal from
Stephen Sanza. Seth Swanson added an empty netter late in the third to ensure the two teams would need Game Three on Sunday.
Greg Dodds got the start, picking up his first loss of the playoffs. He stopped 28 of 30 shots to give Western a chance but his counterpart, Andrew D'Agostini, one-upped him, making 23 saves in the victory—his fifth of the playoffs.
Both teams were unable to cash in on the power play, going zero-for-ten overall. Western is now killing of penalties at a 90% rate through their first seven games, while the Gryphons are at 78%. The majority of penalties were called in a busy second period, although the Gryphons only managed nine shots and the Mustangs managed a game-low two shots on net.
Sanza got the scoring started for Western early in the first period, beating D'Agostini just 1:23 into the opening frame to silence Guelph's 571 fans. Guelph wouldn't be able to respond until early in the third period, when Trecapelli and Fabbri scored back to back to give Guelph their first lead of the series.
Swanson picked up an assist on Trecapelli's goal before adding the empty-netter late. Dylan Gilbert added a pair of assists while Tryg Strand and Robert De Fulviis also had helpers for the Gryphons. Gilbert was the only player to finish with a multi-point night.
The two teams will get back at it on Sunday night, playing for a spot in the OUA finals and a berth in the CIS University Cup when they match up at Thompson Arena at 7:30.
NOTES:
Stephen Gaskin had an assist for Western, giving him five points in seven games so far…. Saturday night was just the second game so far these playoffs that
Andrew Goldberg hasn't gotten on the board. He's tied for the point lead in the OUA playoffs with three Guelph players…
