There'll be no trophies handed out after the Windsor Lancers game against the UQTR Patriotes Sunday in Trois-Rivieres, Que.
 
There will be a big prize nonetheless.
 
The winner will get the OUA's third berth at the CIS men's hockey tournament in two weeks in Fredericton, N.B.
 
“It's great having that extra life (after losing to Western),” said centre Drew Palmer, who is tied for second on the Lancers in playoff scoring with seven points.
 
“It was a bummer losing to Western after being one win from the nationals. At the same time, we're proud of ourselves and the run we've been on.
 
“Knowing we've got a second chance has served as rejuvenation for us this week in practice.”
 
The 10th-ranked Patriotes will present a completely different kind of opponent for Windsor, which fell in three games in the OUA West Division final to fourth-ranked Western.
 
UQTR, which was swept in two games by top-ranked McGill, is a run-and-gun team that outscores opponents.
 
“I think playing Western was great preparation for this game,” Palmer said.
 
“I think we got some respect out of them, maybe out of the league. We showed we deserved to be with these guys in the national tournament.”
 
With 127 goals in 28 regular-season games, the Patriotes are the highest-scoring team in the nation. They boast four players with 30 or more points.
 
Leading that pack of snipers is Felix Petit, who finished third in scoring in the OUA with 18 goals and 41 points.
 
Joining Petit in the OUA's top 25 in scoring are Pierre-Alexandre Joncas (12-20-32), Jean-Sebastien Breton (12-19-31) and Alexandre Demers (8-22-30).
 
“We're going to have to be aware of who is on the ice and match up,” Palmer said.
 
“Parker (Van Buskirk) has played unbelievable for us and defensively we've been real solid in the post-season. Our defence has been a strong point and it will have to be again.”
 
Though they saw their goal scoring dry up in the final two games of the Western series, Palmer said the Lancers aren't concerned. Windsor produced just two goals in the final two games against Western.
 
“We'd be concerned if we weren't getting chances, but we got lots of chances,” Palmer said. “(Western goalie) Josh Unice was just great in the last two games. We also had a few posts and not many bounces go our way.
 
“We outshot them the last two games, had breakaways, so the chances were there.”
 
The Lancers aren't likely to face anyone nearly as accomplished in net as Unice Sunday. Nor are they matched up against a team that is as excellent defensively as the Mustangs.
 
The Patriotes gave up an average of 3.40 goals per game this season. Starting netminder Guillaume Nadeau was slightly better with a 3.18 GAA, but his save percentage of .892 isn't going to keep the Lancer forwards awake at night.
 
“Going into their barn, we've got to keep it simple,” Palmer said.
 
“We have to dump and chase and be physical. That's what you have to do against high-scoring teams.”
 
Palmer added the Lancers also need to get more out a power play that was ranked third in the CIS this season. The Patriotes had the top power play, scoring one more goal than Windsor with the extra skater.
 
However, UQTR struggled on the penalty kill with a success rate of 79 per cent.
 
“If we can win the special teams battle, there's a good chance we win the game,” Palmer said.
 
The Lancers also don't appear to be worried about playing this winner-takes-all game on the road either. Windsor is 4-1 on the road in the playoffs.
 
“For a team like us, a fifth seed in the OUA, we're better off playing one game,” Palmer said. “It's much harder to win a two-of-three series. I think this gives us an edge because we just have to beat them once.
 
“I've heard their barn is crazy, but so is Lakehead. We won twice there in the playoffs to win that series.”
 
Courtesy of The Windsor Star

Stay tuned to www.goLancers.ca for more information and news on the Lancer Men's Hockey team and their playoff trip to Quebec.