This Montreal team can beat Toronto

The Concordia Stingers men’s hockey team swept their two games against the Toronto Varsity Blues and Ryerson Rams this weekend. Next week, the Stingers will have to travel to Toronto to face the same two teams.
Concordia followed up a 3-0 shutout of the Varsity Blues with a hotly contested 5-3 victory over the Rams.
On Saturday afternoon, Concordia’s top line of Nicolas Lafontaine, Mike Baslyk and Nicolas D’Aoust had a day to remember, with the line combining for four goals and eight assists.
The line started early and often with Lafontaine scoring 52 seconds into the game from Baslyk and D’Aoust, and only 15 seconds later Baslyk scored from Lafontaine and D’Aoust.
After Ryerson scored 2:58 into the first period, Baslyk scored his second of the game just over a minute later from his two linemates.
Lafontaine scored twice and assisted on three goals, while Baslyk had two goals and one assist. D’Aoust had four assists.
The game ended with some controversy. After Lafontaine scored the go-ahead goal after a nifty wrap-around pass from forward Brad Gager with 8:34 remaining, the Rams started pushing.
Ryerson forward Michael Paolo put a shot on Stingers goaltender Maxime Joyal, and continued skating into him when the puck crossed the line that could have tied the game. However, the referee immediately waved off the goal and called Paolo for goaltender interference.
This led to a frenzied final 1:17 that led to 46 minutes in penalties. In addition to the two for goaltender interference, Paolo was called for a 10-minute misconduct. His teammate, forward Kevin Day was also called for a 10-minute misconduct. Then, D’Aoust and Ryerson forward Josh McNair each were called for roughing and given 10-minute misconducts as well.
Friday, the Stingers defeated the Toronto Varsity Blues, blanking them 3-0 in front of the home crowd.
It was the first time since Jan. 21, 2007 that the Stingers have recorded a shutout.
“[Goaltender] Maxime Joyal was the difference in today’s game,” head coach Kevin Figsby said. “He played outstanding.”
The Stingers had no flow in the first period, playing in front of a full but silent crowd. In the second and third periods, though, the team found their legs as the fans’ thunder sticks drove up momentum towards a fast-paced game.
“We weren’t playing our game in the first,” said rookie Matt David. “The crowd really helped us get into it tonight.”
David scored the first goal 6:36 into the first period. Forward Evan Ellbogen flew down the left wing and cut to the front of the net, trying to stuff the puck in five-hole on Blues’ goalie Andrew Martin. Instead, the rebound ricocheted out to David, who drove it home on a wide-open net.
“I made sure not to miss,” David laughed.
The goal ignited both the team and the crowd, who roared loudly every time a Stinger touched the puck. When Blues’ forward Byron Elliott got caught for hooking, the Stingers didn’t waste time before increasing their lead. Right-winger Nicolas Lafontaine fired home a rebound to put the Stingers up 2-0.
“I was very pleased with the special teams,” Figsby said. Despite the numerous penalties that littered the game, the Stingers penalty kill was solid and their power play was dominant.
The Stingers sent the Blues’ packing when veteran Mike Baslyk potted an empty-net goal with just under 30 seconds to go in the third, extending his seven-point scoring streak. The Stingers’ captain registered at least one point in every regular season game the team has played.
The Stingers have a long road trip ahead, facing Toronto and Ryerson next weekend. But Figsby has high expectations for the road games, and believes his team will deliver.
“They’re confident,” he said.