Special teams, defence fuel McGill comeback over Carleton

MONTREAL — McGill scored four unanswered goals and received a steady performance from rookie goaltender Nicolas Ruccia in a 4–2 come-from-behind victory over the visiting Carleton Ravens in OUA men's university hockey Friday night at McConnell Arena.

The victory improved McGill to 44-36-1 in 81 lifetime meetings with Carleton and lifted the Redbirds into a tie with Ottawa for second place in the OUA East. Both clubs sit at 10-5-2 with 11 games remaining before the playoffs.

"They came out really strong and applied a lot of pressure early," said McGill head coach David Urquhart. "But our fore-check was really good and despite falling behind 2-0, there's a lot of belief in the room right now that we're going to score and going to find a way to win."

Both teams finished 1-for-5 on the power play and each also scored a shorthanded goal, with McGill moving atop the 19-team OUA with four shorthanded markers on the season. The Redbirds held a slim 31–28 edge in shots.

Carleton opened the scoring late in the first period when Nick McCarry converted on the power play. The Ravens doubled their lead early in the second on a shorthanded goal by Alex Fournier.

McGill began its comeback midway through the frame. Jerome Gilbert got the Redbirds on the board at 6:48, before rookie Jeremie Payant tied the game with a shorthanded marker at 12:56.

"After they scored a shorthanded goal, it was good to see "JP" turn around and answer the bell and respond with a (shortie) himself. It takes character to be down 2-0 and then come back, chip away, find a way to win." Urquhart added.

Defenceman Thomas Belzile gave McGill its first lead at 4:17 of the third period, scoring on the power play from William Rouleau and Mathieu Gagnon. Rouleau sealed the outcome with an empty-net goal in the final minute, assisted by Gagnon.

Ruccia finished with 26 saves to earn the win, turning aside several quality chances as the Ravens pressed late. Carleton starter Dylan Meilun stopped 27 shots in defeat.

"Ruccia's focused, determined, battles on every puck and the guys play with confidence in front of him," said Urquhart. "As we get further in the season, the games get tighter and teams are better structured, especially when you get into the playoffs. Typically, there's not a lot of quality scoring chances as you advance because teams are focused on playing well defensively and that's the way we want to play. We want to give up two goals or less, while scoring three or more. It's a hard way to play. But we've got 11 games left until playoffs and cannot afford any off nights. There's no room for error and you have to bring that style of game every time, blocking shots, doing everything you can to get sticks in (the passing) lanes."

It was a costly loss for eighth-place Carleton, which dropped to 6-11-1 and now sits five points out of the final playoff spot with 10 games left.

McGill returns to action Saturday, hosting sixth-place Ontario Tech (9-8-0) in a 3 p.m. matinee at McConnell Arena. The game is expected to be a sellout as part of the annual Management Winter Carnival, McGill's first Carnival contest since Jan. 13, 2023. The Redbirds hold a 16-3 lifetime record in the revived Carnival series dating back to 2003. Ontario Tech did not play Friday and after confronting McGill, will continue its road swing Sunday at UQTR.