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The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's hockey team defeated the Ryerson Rams 6-4 in Game 2 on Saturday night (Feb. 14) to sweep the OUA West quarter-final series at Varsity Arena.

With the win, the Blues advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2006-07.

"It's been awhile since we won a playoff series," said Varsity Blues head coach Darren Lowe. "We've been on the brink of winning the last five years and we just haven't got it done. I just told our players that for our fifth-year players it was really special to win that one. We're looking forward to whoever we play next."

Fourth-year netminder Brett Willows once again led U of T between the pipes, making 39 saves, after posting 49 in the Game 1 victory.

Third-year forward Patrick Marsh scored two goals and added one assist, while linemate Christian Finch had one goal and three helpers and Russell Turner added three assists in the win.

Toronto wasted no time as Marsh opened the scoring two minutes in, skating off the half boards and wiring a shot top corner.

Ryerson answered right back, however, when Andreas Tsogkas beat Willows, also top corner, just 26 seconds later.

Both goalies were tested, but it was Willows who shone once again. The Rivers, Man., native came up with a beautiful save on a shorthanded breakaway midway through the frame and took a hard shot off the mask late in the period.

The Blues began pressuring Rams goalie Troy Passingham in the final two minutes, with Marsh hitting one off the post, but the Rams took the lead as Brian Birkhoff's point shot went through traffic and into the top corner of the net. Ryerson led 2-1 after the first.

U of T quickly evened the score as third-year forward Kevin Deagle one-timed a Casey Knight rebound into the net 2:28 into the second period.

Once again the Rams came right back as Daniel Clairmont tipped in a centering pass from Kyle Blaney 90 seconds later.

Finch evened it up again halfway through the period, showing great poise with the puck and skating around a Rams defender before backhanding it past Passingham.

Clairmont notched his second of the game with 3:13 remaining in the second as he received a pass from Jason Kelly and found the mesh. Ryerson led 4-3 heading into the final frame.

Fifth-year veteran Micahel Markovic tied things back up as he caught Passingham out of position and put it in from behind the net. Five minutes later, third-year defenceman Lane Werbowski wired a point shot through traffic for the eventual game-winner.

With just over three minutes left to play, Marsh added an insurance marker to round out the win.

Toronto now awaits the results of the other West first-round series to determine their opponent next week. 

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