Max factors in win over Varsity Blues as Redmen improve to 7-0-2

(PHOTO OF MAXIME LANGELIER-PARENT BY GARY RUSH)

MONTREAL -- A shorthanded goal by Maxime Langelier-Parent of Lery, Que., held up as No.2-ranked McGill skated to a 3-2 win over the visiting University of Toronto Varsity Blues in men's hockey at McConnell Arena, Friday.

It was McGill's seventh win in the last eight meetings between these long-time rivals who first met each other back in 1899. Toronto leads the all-time series with a 120-82-15 record in 217 lifetime confrontations.

Francis Verreault-Paul, the league's top goal scorer in each of the last two years, snapped a four-game scoring drought with his first of the season to give McGill a 1-0 lead at 4:41 of the middle period.

But U of T veteran Byron Elliott of Burlington, Ont., connected on a power-play in the final minute of the second frame to knot the score at 1-1.

McGill had a 40-26 edge in shots but was thwarted time and time again by rookie netminder Brett Willows of Rivers, Man., who registered 37 saves in a losing cause to even his record at 2-2.

Rookie rearguard Hugo Laporte of Ste. Julie, Que., restored McGill's advantage early in the final stanza when he took a pass from Langelier-Parent and beat Willows with a power-play marker at 4:36.

Langelier-Parent made it 3-1 three minutes later when he blocked a shot and raced down the ice on a breakaway to chalk up his league-leading third shorthanded goal of the season. He now has eight career "shorties" in 143 games overall, two shy of the school record held by Tim Iannone (1986-90) and Patrice Tremblay (1989-92).

Blues rookie Tyler von Engelbrechten of Markham, Ont., replied on the power-play four minutes later to make for an exciting finish.

"We played a solid game but had a hard time figuring out Willows," said McGill head coach Kelly Nobes. "He stood on his head and kept Toronto in the game with key saves, time and time again."

McGill freshman Mark Segal of Vancouver, B.C., made 24 saves to record the win. A former member of the WHL's Vancouver Giants, Segal is now 4-1 in his five starts.

The division-leading Redmen improved to 7-0-2 and will host the Nipissing University Lakers from North Bay, Ont., on Saturday at 7 p.m. Nipissing, which improved to 7-1-2 after a shocking 4-3 win at UQTR on Friday, is tied with McGill in points but the Redmen own a higher winning percentage and hold a game in hand.

Toronto (4-3-1) plays at Carleton (5-3-0) on Saturday at 3 p.m.

SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman

McGill Athletics & Communications

514-398-7012

SCORING SUMMARY

Toronto 2 at McGill 3

(Friday, November 4, 2011 - McConnell Arena)

GOALS BY PERIOD:
Toronto 0-1-1 -- 2
McGill 0-1-2 -- 3


1st Period-
(No Scoring).

Penalties-
Markovic Tor (tripping), 2:52;
G.Langelier-Parent Mcg (hooking), 5:18;
Walters Tor (interference), 8:12.


2nd Period-
1, McGill, Francis Verreault-Paul 1 (Wright, Longpre-Poirier), 4:41.
2, Toronto, Byron Elliott 7 (von Engelbrechten, Van De Velde), 19:10 (PP).

Penalties-Kay
Tor (hooking), 9:50;
Halloran Tor (cross checking), 11:44;
Dupont Mcg (tripping), 18:07.


3rd Period-
3, McGill, Hugo Laporte 1 (M. Langelier-Parent, Morse), 4:36 (PP).
4, McGill, Maxime Langelier-Parent 4 (unassisted),  7:45 (SH).
5, Toronto, Tyler von Engelbrechten 4 (Elliott, Van De Velde), 11:38 (PP).

Penalties-
Markovic Tor (hooking), 3:08;
Laporte Mcg (interference), 7:04;
Preston Tor (roughing), 10:53;
Zippel Tor (roughing), 10:53;
M. Langelier-Parent Mcg (roughing), 10:53;
Therrien Mcg (roughing), 10:53;
Verreault-Paul Mcg (slashing, cross checking), 10:53;
Kay Tor (hooking), 14:24;
Preston Tor (cross checking), 16:30.

Shots on Goal-
Toronto 8-10-8 -- 26.
McGill 17-12-11 -- 40.

Power Play Opportunities-
Toronto 2 / 5;
McGill 1 / 7.

Penalties-
Toronto 9 / 18;
McGill 7 / 14.

Goalies-

Toronto,
Brett Willows (L, 2-2-0, 40 shots-37 saves; 59:09);
Empty-net (0 shots-0 saves; 0:51).

McGill,
Mark Segal (W, 4-1-0, 26 shots-24 saves; 60:00).

Attendance-412

Referee-Gavin White.

MOLSON CUP THREE STARS:

1. Maxime Langelier-Parent, McGill

2. Nicolas Therrien, McGill

3. Brett Williows, Toronto