We are just seven minutes away until the tonight's big playoff game!
The Ryerson Rams are taking on the Lakehead Thunderwolves in Game Two of the OUA West Semi-finals. The Rams come into this game trailing 1-0 in the best-of-three series and a loss tonight will spell the end to their playoff hopes.
Lakehead shutout Ryerson 7-0 in Game One on Wednesday night thanks to a great goaltending performance by Jeff Bosch and a four-goal game from Cody Alcock.
One minute to go, the game clock reads!
Lakehead has just stepped onto the ice, the Rams are waiting.
The Rams have just stepped on too, now. We're just waiting for the National Anthem.
Lakehead mascot trying to get the crowd into it. Both teams are standing at their bluelines, as the National Anthem is being sung.
Rams captain Andrew Buck takes to centre ice for the ceremonial puck drop. Now it's game time!
The Rams will need stronger defensive effort tonight. Lots of turnovers in Game One lead to pucks in the back of their net.
Lakehead's Cody Alcock leads the OUA in the playoffs goals with five- tied for first with McGill's Cedric McNicoll.
Game on! The ref drops the puck and it's officially set.
Rams Buck goes offside 45 secs into the game.
Rams neutral zone play looking much better than in Game One early on.
The Rams Daniel Lombardi with a shot wide of the net!
Ryerson's Jamie Wise misses on a shot just wide of the goal. Dominant possession times for the Rams.
Rams ice the puck. Don't want to be doing too much of that in this game.
Right off the icing- which I said you don't want to be doing that much- Lakehead's captain scores the opening goal on a perfect wrister to the glove hand of Troy Passingham.
Rams need to get the next one. A two-goal deficit on the road will be tough to erase.
Post! The Thunderwolves hit the post! Rams holding on for dear life.
All Lakehead now. Good work from behind the goal-line.
Jake Carrick with another interception for Lakhead. Too many bad passes by Ryerson.
Fearless sacrifice by Captain Andrew Buck. Huge point-blank block in front of Passingham. "What a frenetic set of action we have had in Thunder Bay," the announcer says.
5-1 shots on goal for Lakehead.
2-0 folks, the Thunderwolves strike again!
Cody Alcock with a gorgeous set-up and Mike Quesnele beats Passingham to the glove. No chance for the goalie. Not his fault.
Rams ice the puck again. It's not looking good at all for the Rams.
"That was the best scoring opportunity the Rams had in this one," the announcer says.
Penalty coming up. Lakehead to their first Powerplay.
Bosch has now shut-out the Rams for 70 consecutive minutes! 45 seconds done in the penalty, nothing doing for Lakehead.
Lakehead in off-side on their PP and their second unit is on.
Passingham with a nice save!
Lakehead has the puck in Rams territory but lots of shots deflected. Now the PP is over. Huge kill for the Rams.
Ryerson is going back to the box. 2 minutes for high-sticking to Domenic Alberga. Bad penalty, especially in the offensive zone.
Rams clear the puck 1 minute into the second penalty kill. Good kill
so far.
Birkhoff with the clear, then Lakehead goes off-side. 3:49 to go in the first period.
Penalty! Rams go on the PP
their first of the game. There will be a minute of 4 on 4 first, though.
Oh my, ANOTHER penalty! This one to the Rams! Holy Moly. Birkhoff with a clear trip and goes to the box because of it.
Lakehead with a late shot after an off-side call. Nothing ensues.
Rams being hemmed in their own end, Alberga gets it out of harms way.
Oh my Buck! The captain misses the net on a BREAKAWAY. Best chance by far for Ryerson.
Peter Hermenegildo headed straight to the dressing room after colliding into the boards. He's favouring his left arm.