The most goals scored in the OUA and the least shots against – that's a good recipe for success in the playoffs.

And that's how the Nipissing Lakers women's hockey team is entering the post-season, which begins Wednesday afternoon against the Ryerson Rams.

The Lakers locked up fourth place and finished the year off with two wins this past weekend and now host the Rams in Game 1 of their first round OUA McCaw Cup Playoffs.

The Lakers wrapped up the regular season with a 16-6-2 record, with an impressive 11-1-0 record on home ice, where they'll begin the post-season.

The teams split a pair of meetings this season, with Nipissing taking the first showdown 3-2 and Ryerson winning the second game 2-0 in Toronto.

The two meetings will be used as building blocks for the series, but it's a new season and a new game.

Nipissing's offence was the tops in the OUA, led by outstanding rookie Maria Dominico who had 15 goals and 26 points, leading her team in both categories.

Bronwyn Bolduc, who is now the program's all-time leader in goals, had a huge second half, hitting the 10-goal mark and supplying support to Dominico.

The Lakers had 17 skaters find the back of the net and five had at least six goals, led by Dominico and Bolduc.

Those two forwards were also clutch, each burying three game-winners throughout the year.

The veteran leadership is worth noting as well, from both returning players like Kaley Tienhaara, Brooklyn Irwin and a list that could go on and on.

Another addition is Robyn Degagne, a transfer from Laurier who is completing her schooling at Nipissing.

Degagne has been part of championship teams in the past and knows what it takes.

On the blueline, Nipissing has potential to be extremely stingy in their own end, but also create offence.

Zosia Davis had an impressive season, piling up 18 points, including a team-leading 14 assists, putting her second on the team in scoring.

She anchors a defence that had nine goals and 46 points during the season and allowed the fewest shots against, proving a valuable asset both defensively and offensively.

A strength of the Lakers since the program began has been the goaltending and this year is no different, with two outstanding goalies.

Jackie Rochefort and Danika Ranger both had the ability to steal games and stabilize things and will be key in any Lakers success throughout the post-season.

As always, special teams play a huge role and with the Ryerson third on the power play, but ranked 12 on the penalty kill, versus Nipissing's sixth best power play and fifth best penalty kill, the Lakers may hold a slight advantage.

A very even matchup should make for a very entertaining series as Nipissing looks to keep their streak alive of three straight trips to at least the second round.

Game 1 goes Wednesday at 1pm at Memorial Gardens.
 

Round 1
Game 1 - Wed. @ 1pm in North Bay
Game 2 - Fri. @ 7:15pm in Toronto
Game 3 - Sun. @ 7:30pm in North Bay*
*If Necessary