A late-game goal put men’s hockey in a hole to start their OUA East first-round series against the Laurentian Voyageurs.

Queen’s dropped the series opener 2-1 on home ice Wednesday night. Laurentian forward Dylan Fitze beat Gaels netminder Kevin Bailie with just under three minutes remaining in the third period for the deciding goal.

With the loss, Queen’s will have to win twice consecutively in enemy territory to advance to the second round of the playoffs.

The Gaels held the lead heading into the final period, thanks to a power play marker from forward Darcy Greenaway with 1:04 left in the first frame. They surrendered that advantage slightly over two minutes into the third, when Laurentian forward Sebastian Leroux scored on the power play.

Bailie made 23 saves in a losing effort. Voyageurs backstop Alain Valiquette turned away 25 of the 26 shots he faced.

Game two is slated for Saturday at 8:30 p.m. in Sudbury. Game three, if necessary, will take place the next day.

— Sean Sutherland