CALGARY – After 70 minutes of play and six rounds in the shootout the Calgary Dinos couldn't beat Alberta goaltender Michala Jeffries on their way to a 2-1 shootout loss to the Pandas at the Olympic Oval Friday.

BOX SCORE

The contest featured end-to-end offensive play with both teams earning many chances on the rush only to be denied by the impressive play of the netminders, Alberta's Jeffries and Calgary's Amanda Tapp.

The first period saw all of the scoring for the contest with the Pandas stunning the home team with an early goal 1:11 into the contest. That goal was the result of a drive by Alberta attacker Sarah Hilworth that was initially stopped by Tapp before Panda forward Alannah Kedra picked up the rebound and gunned it past the prone Calgary goalie.

The lone puck to find its way past Jeffries and into the Alberta net was an even strength effort from Hayley Wickenheiser to tie the game 12:28 into the first. That goal, a wrist shot from the high slot, was the result of a feed from rookies Erika Mitschke and Jenna Smith as part of a three-on-two rush. The goal was Wickenheiser's 17th on the season.

The rest of the game would see both teams continuing to get chances on net but failing to convert on them. After 70 minutes the Pandas had fired 28 shots at Tapp for a 27 save night while Jeffries turned away 24 of 25 at the other end. In that time both teams were awarded four power plays but could capitalize on none of them.

With four minutes left in regulation the Dinos were dealt a huge blow when Wickenheiser was involved in a knee-on-knee collision at the Alberta blue-line with Pandas forward Lindsie Fairfield . Wickenheiser left the ice and not return for the remainder of the game.

The shootout was an extended affair as both goalies continued their hot streaks and turned away everything for the first five rounds of shooters. The sixth shooter turned out to be the charm for Alberta with Karla Bourke skating in and wristing the game-winning goal between Tapp's pad and blocker to earn Alberta an extra point and the top spot in Canada West.

Following the loss Dinos head coach Danielle Goyette praised both her team and the abilities of the visitors.

“I've been in the CIS for two years and I think this is the best game that we've played in those two years,” she said. “It was a fast game with great plays from both teams.”

She was especially pleased with the play of her goaltender.

“I think Tapp played great tonight. If you want to be on top you have to have a goalie who can make those saves at the right times like she did. It's not fun to lose in a shootout but you can't evaluate your play based on this kind of loss. I think we played a great game.”

With their marathon run of five games in nine days almost at an end, the Dinos will head north to the provincial capital tomorrow for the second round of this home-and-home. That game will be held at Clare Drake Arena with the puck dropping at 7 p.m.

-UC-