Returning home to host the York Lions on Saturday, February 19, the Toronto Varsity Blues found themselves on the wrong end of a 5-1 score despite outshooting the visitors 36-26.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: For the first time since the 2021-22 OUA season restart, the Blues were unable to score first, putting them in an early hole. With the Lions on the power-play, Ben Evanish got the puck past Varsity Blues goalie, Alex Bishop, just over two minutes into the contest.

In the second period, Toronto was able to push back creating plenty of play in the York zone. However, it was the Lions who would go on to strike next. Just like their first goal, it was Evanish again finding the back of the net on the power-play to put the visitors up by a pair. Continuing to push, the Blues would get themselves on the board thanks to third-year economics major, Peyton Reeves. Scoring his fourth goal of the season, Reeves pulled the Blues back within one with 12:28 to play in the middle frame. Despite the Blues further generating more chances, a turnover in their own zone would lead to Jordan McKenna restoring the Lion's two-goal advantage heading into the third.

Down 3-1 with only 20 minutes left to play, Toronto continued to battle. Creating chances, as well as power-play opportunities, the Blues forced the issue but were unable to get anything further past York goalie, Cole Ceci. In the end, the Lions would tally a pair of empty-netters to round out the scoring.

Toronto finished the game going 0-4 with the man-advantage, while the Lions converted on two of their four attempts.

In the defeat, Bishop stopped 21 of the 24 shots he saw.
           
UP NEXT: The Blues will have a couple of days off early in the week before returning to Varsity Arena on Thursday, February 24 to host the Rams. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.  

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