LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – Brock Nixon scored twice while Dustin Butler posted a sterling 37-save performance as the University of Calgary Dinos defeated the Lethbridge Pronghorns 4-2 Wednesday night at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

BOX SCORE

The midweek game made up a postponed outing from Jan. 8 when inclement weather caused unsafe travel conditions in southern Alberta. With the win, the Dinos retroactively sweep the home-and-home series and open up a five-point edge over the Horns with four games left in the season.

After weathering an intense Lethbridge forecheck in the opening period, the Dinos slowly began to take over the game as the periods went on, converting on their offensive opportunities and riding a solid performance by their netminder.

“They had better energy than us in the first period,” said Dinos coach Mark Howell. “Anytime you go on the road your goalie has to be good, and Butler was great in the first period. We managed to score when we had to, and our power play came through for us.”

The Dinos opened the scoring just under seven minutes in when Torrie Wheat picked off the puck at the Lethbridge blueline. His pass eluded a couple of Dinos but landed on the stick of Cory Pritz, who roofed a wrister over Lethbridge goalie Scott Bowles.

Just 28 seconds later, the Horns put things back on even terms when Tyler Melancon's wrister on the left wing was kicked out by Butler right to a waiting Tyler Feakes, who had plenty of net to shoot at and made no mistake.

Calgary re-opened its one-goal lead at the 17:49 mark of the opening frame when Reid Jorgensen caused a turnover on the forecheck, leading to Teegan Moore's third goal of the season, and the Dinos took a 2-1 lead into the dressing room, despite being out-shot 17-7 in the frame.

After taking three straight penalties and withstanding a siege in their own end, the Dinos got a man-advantage situation of their own and capitalized to extend their lead. On a four-on-three situation, Nixon accepted a Walker Wintoneak pass down low, skated laterally to his left, turned, and wired a shot up high on Bowles to make it 3-1 Calgary midway through the second.

Nixon scored his second of the night less than four minutes into the third with the Dinos enjoying a five-on-three advantage. Jorgensen made a beautiful pass from behind the goal line, finding Nixon all alone in front for the easy tap-in.

“He's a goal scorer, and he's just had a tough year,” said Howell of third-year forward Nixon. “That was the best energy and tempo and speed he's had in a long time, and as a result he put the puck in the net.”

The Horns added one more late when Cam Creighton beat Butler with just 39 seconds to play.

Lethbridge outshot the Dinos 39-34 on the night. Calgary went 2-for-5 with the power play, while the Horns were unable to convert on any of their six man advantage situations.

The Dinos wrap up a busy week when they host the last-place Regina Cougars Friday and Saturday nights at Max Bell Arena. Face-off is 7:30 p.m. Friday night, with a 7 p.m. puck drop slated for Saturday.

“Our guys are used to playing three in four nights from junior, and I know they'd rather play than practice for sure,” said Howell. “It's a unique situation and Regina will be dangerous because they're out of the playoffs and won't have any fear at all. If we can play smart and hard to start those games, hopefully we can find a way to close those out.”

The Horns and Dinos will meet twice more to end the season, with both games at Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary Feb. 25-26.

SCORING SUMMARY
1st Period
CGY: Pritz (Wheat), 6:57
LETH: Feakes (Melancon, Pucci-Daniele), 7:25
CGY: Moore (Grant, Jorgensen), 17:49

2nd Period
CGY: Nixon (Wintoneak), 8:26 PP

3rd Period
CGY: Nixon (Jorgensen, Pritz), 3:46 PP
LETH: Creighton (Gal, Letts), 19:21

-UC-