TROIS-RIVIÈRES – The Trois-Rivières Patriotes rallied with four unanswered goals, including three in the final period, to defeat McGill 4-1 in OUA men's hockey at Le Colisée, Sunday.
 
Despite being outshot by a 37-30 margin, McGill drew first blood before being outdone over the final 21 minutes. It was the third straight win and fourth in five games for the Patriotes (17-5-2), who bettered their second place standing in the OUA East. They sit nine points ahead of McGill, which dropped to 12-8-1 with seven games left before playoffs.
 
Julien Tessier, a freshman from St. Marc des Carrières, Que., scored one goal and added one assist to pace the Pats. Tessier, who played five seasons in the QMJHL with Saint John, Chicoutimi, Moncton and Val d'Or, leads the OUA in assists with 24 in as many games. 

Following a scoreless first period, rookie defenceman Michael Campoli of Pointe Claire, Que., opened the scoring for McGill only 16 seconds into the second stanza. It was the second of the season for the economics freshman. Guillaume Gauthier from Ste. Marthe sur le Lac, Que., and Michael Cramarossa of Markham, Ont., earned assists on the play.
 
But UQTR's Simon Lafrance equalized at 1-1 with a power-play marker just 27 seconds before the end of the period. Tessier and teammate Jordan Martel were credited with assists. Vincent Chapleau gave the Pats a 2-1 lead – with what proved to be the game-winner – three minutes into the final period, and Maxime Chagnon added an insurance tally at 9:23.
 
Tessier made it 4-1 with an empty-netter four seconds before the final buzzer.
 
McGill, which was saddled with 10 of the 15 penalties called, failed to take advantage of four power-play chances while UQTR was 1-for-8.
 
Senior goaltender Louis-Philip Guindon of St. Joseph du Lac, Que., turned aside 33 of 36 shots in a lsoing cause as his record fell to 10-6. Between the pipes for UQTR was Sebastien Auger, who made 29 saves and improved to 12-7.
 
Neither side has beaten the other in consecutive wins since back-to-back McGill victories dating back to October of 2018. McGill (12-8-1) will aim to honour that trend as the team returns to Trois-Rivières midweek when they renew hostilities with UQTR (17-5-2) in three days' time (Jan. 22). Puck-drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Colisée.
 
SCORING SUMMARY

OUA STANDINGS & STATS