Box Score Toronto, Ont. – The Western Mustangs were back Toronto Wednesday night for game 1 of their second-round playoff matchup with the Ryerson Rams. This came after a thrilling three-game series over the top-seeded University of Toronto. The Mustangs did not fair well against Ryerson in the regular season, dropping both games to the Rams. But the playoffs present an opportunity to flip the script.

One player that certainly understands that opportunity is the Western goalie, Luke Peressini. Peressini did not have the strongest regular season but has turned that around in recent games as he held the highest-ranked offence in the province to just a goal in each of his last two starts.

Peressini was needed early as both Western and Ryerson experienced multiple scoring chances early in the period. Western was the more physical of the two teams, but it was an even game throughout the first period.

The game was tied 0-0 until late in the period when Ryerson earned the games first powerplay. The Rams would score as a wrist shot from the top of the circle beat Peressini, who was screened on the play.

The first period ended with a 1-0 Mustang deficit.

The second period started with a powerplay opportunity for Western, but they special teams was unable to convert. After a successful kill by Ryerson, the Rams added to their lead four minutes into the second frame.

About halfway through the period, the Mustangs nearly put home their first goal of the game. Unfortunately, Western could not find a way to score and Ryerson started a counterattack that lead to another goal for the Rams. The goal pushed their lead to 3-0.

The Mustangs offence would wake up from there, gaining some of the best chances of the game in the ensuing minutes.

As momentum continued to swing the Mustangs way, Ryerson was called for a slashing infraction with two minutes left to play in the second period. A goal on the powerplay would be crucial if Western wanted to get back in the game.

They would get the goal they needed as the Mustangs converted on the powerplay.

The goal allowed the Mustangs to go into intermission with a chance to win the game. Throughout the early parts of the third period, Western continued to push but was unable to score.

Despite controlling large portions of the game, Western would then allow a Ryerson goal halfway through the third frame to push the Rams lead back to 3 goals. That 4-1 score would serve as the final of the game with Ryerson taking game one of the series. 

Game two takes place in London on Saturday as the Mustangs look for history to repeat itself and take a victory in game 2, just as they did last series.