LETHBRIDGE – Kris Snopek scored unassisted at 1:19 of overtime to lead the Lethbridge Pronghorns to a 4-3 win over the Calgary Dinos Friday night at Nicolas Sheran Arena.
BOX SCORE
On a harmless-looking rush, the puck was directed on net and got caught in Calgary goaltender Jeff Weber's skates. Weber was unable to locate the puck, and Snopek was Johnny-on-the-spot to knock the puck into the yawning cage.
The win was the Horns' third straight over the Dinos and fifth straight overall. Lethbridge moves to 9-6 on the season, while the Dinos fall to 6-8-1 with one game remaining before the winter break.
Calgary fell behind early when Dustin Moore grabbed a loose puck and sent an off-balance shot past Weber just 32 seconds into the first period, giving the Horns a 1-0 lead right out of the gate.
Calgary recovered in relatively short order thanks to fourth-year forward Brett O'Malley. Thirteen seconds into a two-man advantage for the Dinos, O'Malley beat Scott Bowles to knot the affair. Just 37 seconds later, O'Malley scored his second straight, redirecting a Travis Friedley point shot over a down-and-out Bowles. The early power play success put the Dinos in front just over seven minutes into the game.
The Horns would respond with a power play marker of their own when Steve Zmudczynski's wrister from the top of the circle found the far post and bounced in behind Weber, and the teams headed into the first intermission tied 2-2.
Lethbridge had the lone goal in the second period, the fourth straight power play goal scored in the game. With the Dinos' Ryan Gillen off for interference, Moore hit the scoresheet again when his point shot was stopped by Weber, with the rebound bouncing right to the stick of Tyler Stella. Stella made the easy tap-in to put the Horns back on top at the 8:18 mark.
Torrie Wheat drew the Dinos even again midway through the third period, tapping in a beautiful backdoor pass from Friedley with the teams skating four-on-four. Friedley, who entered the night as the leading scorer among defencemen in the conference, had a hand in all three Dinos goals on the night.
Landon Jones was the only multiple point-getter for the Horns, notching a pair of assists, while Wheat added an assist on the second O'Malley goal for Calgary.
Both teams converted on two power play opportunities, with Lethbridge finishing 2-of-5 and the Dinos 2-of-6. Calgary outshot the Pronghorns 37-29 on the night.
The teams conclude their weekend home-and-home series – and the pre-Christmas portion of the 2008-09 season – Saturday night at Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary. Face-off is set for 7 p.m.
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