CALGARY – With the second game in as many days going to extra time between the Calgary Dinos and the Lethbridge Pronghorns, Calgary found success yet again, using an overtime tip-in from Jerrid Sauer to ice the weekend sweep in their home-opener.
Nearly halfway through the extra session, defenceman Cory Pritz fired a shot from the point in transition, which Lethbridge goaltender Reese St. Goddard had a read on the entire way. However the Pronghorns couldn't muscle a hard-charging Sauer out from in front of the net, who deflected it clean past the senior keeper for his fourth point of the season.
St. Goddard had an otherwise fantastic outing for the Pronghorns (0-0-2), making 38 saves on 40 shots, while rookie Calgary goaltender Kris Lazaruk was just as impressive, making 24 saves in the victory for the Dinos (2-2-0).
Lethbridge would get on the board first, answering quickly to start the second frame. Calgary native Daniel Iwanski found a nice feed from centre Nicholas Hotson on Lazaruk's right side, which the rookie buried for his first of the year.
Third year forward Brock Nixon had the best chance for Calgary in the middle frame, firing a shot just into St. Goddard's pads from his wide open position in front of the net. Conversely, Pronghorns sparkplug Mike Wuchterl would generate two great opportunities for his side, spearheading an odd-man rush off of a beautiful deke on the red line, and then pouncing on a turnover from Lazaruk behind his net. Both chances would be turned aside from the first year goaltender.
Reid Jorgensen got his third goal of the weekend off a rebound from a Colton Grant shot early in the third period, tying the game at one. The majority of the third period was all Dinos, as Calgary out-shot the visitors 20-8 in the final 20 minutes.
Jorgensen would create another fantastic chance on a power play late in the third, sending a slap pass to Nixon, who just slipped up at the last second on St. Goddard's open right side.
After a huge late penalty kill, the Dinos called a timeout with a faceoff in their zone with just eleven seconds remaining. Whatever head coach Mark Howell said in that break nearly worked wonders, as Jorgensen and Tyler Swystun would manage a two on one situation with just seconds to go. Reigning Canada West First-Team All-Star defender Ryan Pottruff would momentarily save the day for Lethbridge however, with a huge sprawling block on the Jorgensen pass to negate the Calgary rush.
It wasn't enough for Lethbridge though, as the goal from Jerrid Sauer would clinch the victory for Calgary in the overtime session. Sauer was definitely satisfied after the home-opening win.
“We lost some guys this year, and we've all felt the need to step it up,” said the third year forward. “I'm feeling good so far and am getting some great chances and some good bounces.”
“We know as a team that weekend sweeps are essential to moving up in the standings, so we definitely felt some urgency late in the game,” Sauer continued. “We're really happy to get that win.”
The Lethbridge Pronghorns will stay in province next weekend, heading north to face the Alberta Golden Bears, while the Dinos will head to the city of Vancouver to play the UBC Thunderbirds.
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