Following a 2-1 victory on Friday night over the visiting Laurentian Voyageurs, the Ryerson Rams returned to action on Saturday evening back home in Toronto. This time, the Rams beat the RMC Paladins 3-1 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.
The game started slowly for both sides respectively as neither were able to find the mesh early on. However, just 11:57 into the first frame of play in Toronto, it was Seamus Maguire, one of eight British Columbia born players, who got things going as he poked in the first goal of the game.
The goal, his first of the season, would be unassisted to break the scoreless tie, though RMC lead would not last for long as the play would pick up. That being said, as the second frame got underway, the Rams would then even things up as David Miller put Ryerson ahead. The game-tying goal came at the 16:37 mark of the game’s second period. Much like Maguire’s goal, Miller’s fifth goal of the season was unassisted.
That would be all the scoring until the midway point of the third period when Ram’s captain Matt Mistele tipped the puck through the five hole of Joey May for his fourth of the season. This would put the Rams up 2-1 on RMC. Mistele, formerly of Sarnia (OHL) would net the puck by RMC with 14:33 left in the third.
Entering the game on Saturday, the Ryerson Rams had played eight games, walking in with a 4-2-2 record along with a power play percentage of 18.2. Additionally, the Ryerson penalty kill percentage entering the night was at 78.9, meanwhile, the Rams’ current goal for games rate going into the evening would be 3.25.
The penalty minutes through two would be 21 for RMC, meanwhile, for the Ryerson Rams, they would close things while sitting at 10. As for second period shots, it would end with Ryerson up by six, 21-15. For May, he would lead the way with 20 saves made over Ryerson’s 14, meanwhile, going 0/4 on the PP and the Rams 0/3.
Plenty of chances would ensue in the final minutes of the game’s third period with a power play with two minutes left, allowing numerous chances to double things up. While nothing would come of their efforts, RMC would then call a timeout, but that not resulting in further production, paving the way for the Ryerson Rams. With just nine seconds left, Matthew Santos would score the empty netter, his fifth of the season coming through on the breakaway as the Rams would walk away with the victory.
Ryerson, now 5-2-2, returns to action on Wednesday night when they pay a visit to Nipissing University with puck drop at 7:00pmET. The game, played at Robert J. Surtees Student Athletics Centre, can be seen on OUA.tv with coverage to follow on 49.
Feature photo: Christian Bender