The Waterloo Warriors thought they had escaped the heartbreak of a season-ending loss. As it turns out, they only delayed it.

Mitch Gallant scored the series-clinching goal, and the Ryerson Rams overcame a late game-tying rally from the Waterloo Warriors to claim a 5-4 overtime victory in game two of the best-of-three OUA West division quarterfinal. The win completed the series sweep for the Rams, as the third-seed Warriors were eliminated in the first round of the postseason for the second straight year.

Gallant's game-winner was a stereotypically ugly playoff overtime winner, as a deflected shot took a wild bounce off the back boards, and landed right on Gallant's stick on the doorstep. The Ryerson forward was a fitting hero, since he'd hit a goal post in the third period, and rang another shot off the crossbar earlier in the extra session.

Gallant's game-winner was his second of the game. The Rams also got two goals from Jamie Lewis, and one from defenceman Keevan Cutting. Troy Passingham made 47 saves for the victory.

The Warriors loss overshadowed a three-goal effort from Phillip Fife (Oromocto), and a highlight-reel game-tying goal from Mike Moffat (Waterloo) with under two minutes to play. Joey Champigny (East Angus) returned from a knee injury and immediately made an impact, registering three assists on the night. Mike Morrison (Hamilton) was saddled with the tough-luck loss, as he made 37 stops in defeat.

The Rams never trailed in the game, and got out to a quick start when Gallant converted a 2-on-1 early in the first. It was the only goal of the opening frame, but the offensive floodgates opened for both sides midway through the second.

Lewis started it all when his wrister doubled the Ryerson lead at 11:55 of the second, but Fife scored his first on a backhanded roof job just two minutes later. The Rams restored the two-goal lead shortly thereafter when Cutting's point shot hit a leg in front and bounced past Morrison, but Fife cleaned up an Andrew Smith (Kitchener) rebound before the end of the second stanza, making it 3-2 Ryerson after 40 minutes.

Lewis scored his second of the game early in the third to re-establish the two-goal Rams cushion, but that just set the stage for the furious Warriors comeback. First, it was Fife, whacking home a Champigny centering feed to complete the hat trick and make it 4-3 Ryerson. Then, Moffat took a Chris Chappell (Pickering) feed and made a pair of gorgeous moves around a Rams defender and Passingham to send the game to overtime tied at 4-4.

There were plenty of chances for both sides in the fourth period – Colin Behenna (Waterloo) was hauled down alone in front just moments before Gallant ripped a shot off the crossbar. But in the end, the lively bounce off the end boards decided the game, as Gallant made no mistake with the fortuitous hop.

While the Warriors' offseason is starting earlier than they expected, the Rams will now await their next opponent – they will either face the Western Mustangs or the York Lions in the OUA West division semi-finals, beginning next week.