The Carleton Ravens men's hockey team will have to slay some giants if they want to stay in the playoff hunt. Carleton enters the weekend five points behind Ontario Tech for the final playoff spot in the OUA East.
By the time Carleton arrives in Trois-Rivieres, they'll know where their hopes lie as Tech plays in Toronto Thursday night which will leave the Ravens with two games in hand. The trip won't be easy, Carleton faces a pair of Top 10 ranked opponents as they enter Le Colisee to play the third-ranked (18-5-1) Patriotes before heading to Montreal to face the sixth-ranked (18-5-2) McGill Redbirds.
Offence has been a struggle for Carleton this year, the team has just 77 goals through 24 games, on pace for just 86. Last season, Carleton was third in the OUA East with 97. The team's +3 differential sees them tied with Ontario Tech but is 29 goals behind fifth-place Queen's. It's the reality of playing in the difficult OUA East, out West only four playoff teams have a positive differential with fourth-place Windsor at only +1.
Carleton will need to find some offence while shutting down the top-scoring Pats and Redbirds. Their 111 goals are the most in the OUA and are third in the country behind UNB and UBC. McGill isn't far behind, scoring 104 goals, good for third in the OUA and sixth in the country.
