CALGARY – With only four games left in their 2009-10 regular season schedule, the University of Calgary Dinos will be playing with some urgency against the Saskatchewan Huskies at the Rutherford Rink in Saskatoon.
A shot at second place, and the all-important home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs, became even more of a long shot this past weekend for the Dinos (10-9-5), who were forced to watch the scoreboard on their late-season bye week.
The issue now becomes much more than playoff positioning for the Dinos, as they are now faced with a realistic possibility of missing the playoffs entirely.
The Lethbridge Pronghorns, who are 6-2 since the holiday break with a sweep of the Dinos included, are now just two points behind Calgary for the fourth and final playoff spot in Canada West. With two games each against the Regina Cougars and the Huskies left for the 'Horns, they could very conceivably catch the Dinos for the fourth, and final playoff spot.
All that being said, Calgary will have to go into the hostile Rutherford in Saskatoon this weekend to try and grab some victories from the third place Huskies (12-7-3). Should they sweep Saskatchewan on their home ice, it could put them in a very good position to capture third in Canada West, as they sit only two points behind the Huskies in the standings with only UBC left to face to round out the season.
However should they be swept by their Saskatchewan counterparts, it could put them in a do-or-die situation heading into their final regular season series Feb. 19-20 just to qualify for the postseason.
The Dinos will need their offensive leaders to rise up to the challenge this weekend, as they have been doing for the majority of the season.
Reid Jorgensen remains the Dinos' leading scorer as well as the eighth leading scorer in the conference, and is making a strong case for the Canada West All-Star team as the season winds to a close. With five goals to go along with an impressive 22 assists, Jorgensen has been the most consistent Dino with a 12-game point streak only recently coming to a close.
Fourth year forward
Torrie Wheat has been very solid playing alongside Jorgensen on Calgary's top line, while
Brock Nixon has scored ten goals in his second season with the Dinos.
Jerrid Sauer leads all Calgary defensemen in points, helping with 11 assists and three goals, while
Cory Pritz is not far behind. Pritz has 11 points in his inaugural Calgary campaign, and leads all Dinos rookies.
Steven DaSilva, the reigning conference MVP and Rookie of the Year, leads all Huskies scorers with 25 points. The talented second-year forward is followed by former Calgary Hitman Kyle Bortis, who has 22 points, and Regina Cougar-transfer Kyle Ross, with 20.
Saskatchewan is undefeated in regulation (8-0-2) at Rutherford Rink in 2009-2010, and only recently dropped their two overtime games to Alberta.
Calgary's second ranked power-play unit will be tested as well on the road this weekend, as the Huskies have only let in two power-play goals at home, and lead the conference overall in penalty kill (91%).
Calgary and Saskatchewan split their first series in November at Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary, with the Dinos winning 4-3 in a shootout before dropping a 4-1 decision on Saturday.
Following the weekend series, Saskatchewan will welcome the Bisons for another important weekend set, while Calgary will return home to finish out their season against the last place UBC Thunderbirds.
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