The University of Windsor Lancers men's hockey team advanced to the OUA Queen's Cup semifinals on Thursday, Feb. 26 on a 3-2 overtime goal from Logan Linklater in game two to sweep the best-of-three OUA quarterfinals against the Guelph Gryphons in two games.

GAME FLOW
The Lancers started game two in Guelph, Ont. with a bang, scoring just two minutes into the game as Keegan McMullen was left alone netfront and put away a rebound from a Brady Hinz shot on an early power play to keep the momentum rolling from Wednesday's 5-2 game one win. The Gryphons responded just 48 seconds later on a power play goal of their own, as Anthony Tabak netted the equalizer. The teams would go into the first intermission tied, with Guelph having a slight 11-10 edge in shots.

Guelph pressed in the middle stanza, putting 15 shots on Lancers goaltender Max Donoso but were unable to break through as the second-year goaltender stood tall to keep the Lancers in the game. Logan Linklater rewarded his goaltender's strong play by stuffing home a sharp angle shot to give the Lancers a 2-1 lead with five minutes to play in the second frame.

Windsor kept the Gryphons in check throughout the third period, holding the one-goal lead as the end of the third period approached. Guelph had nine shots to the Lancers five, but Donoso yet again shut the door, including stopping a Nolan Dann penalty shot to preserve the lead that the Gryphons were so desperately trying to even. With just thirty-nine seconds to play, the Gryphons managed to tie the game on a goal by Jack Wismer, sending Gryphon Centre Arena into a frenzy as Guelph forced overtime to keep their season alive.

The home crowd celebration was short-lived, as Linklater ended the Gryphons season by picking the puck up in the defensive zone, skating with a head of steam through the neutral zone, and splitting the Guelph defense before tucking in the winning goal on the forehand just 75 seconds into the overtime period, sending the Lancers to the semifinals.

STATS
Logan Linklater, who had five goals in the regular season, scored his first two goals of the playoffs, including the overtime winner, in Thursday night's thriller. OUA goal scoring co-leader Keegan McMullen netted his first of the playoffs. Stef Dobrich, Ty Toews, Colton Smith, and Brady Hinz all drew assists. Max Donoso stopped 33 of 35 shots in a remarkable winning performance.

Jack Wismer had a goal and an assist for Guelph, while Dylan Hudon had two helpers and Anthony Tabak had a goal. Olivier Ciarlo made 22 saves in the loss.

UP NEXT
The Lancers will face the winner of the TMU Bold vs. Brock Badgers quarterfinal series in the OUA Queen's Cup semifinals, where the blue and gold will have home ice advantage. Game times and dates will be announced at a later date. Once confirmed, tickets will be available at golancers.ca/tickets.