CALGARY – Led by a first period goal and assist from Walker Wintoneak, the no.8 Calgary Dinos took care of business at Max Bell Arena in Calgary, beating the Regina Cougars by a score of 2-0.
BOX SCORE
Aaron Richards had two assists as well to help the Dinos, who received a 19 save shutout effort from Kris Lazaruk. Regina goaltender A.J. Whiffen had 29 saves in a very nice game despite the loss.
Calgary's victory was made all the more important after hearing Friday's result between Lethbridge and Saskatchewan, where the Pronghorns beat the Huskies by a score of 5-3. This puts Calgary in a tie for second place at 32 points with Saskatchewan with just three games to go for each squad. Alberta beat Manitoba 4-3 in the shootout in the other Friday game, shortening the distance between the Bisons and Lethbridge for fourth place.
The first period was all Dinos, as they jumped out to a one goal lead early in the game on a Jerrid Sauer blast from the point with Regina's Cody Thoring in the box for holding. Calgary would add to their lead a little later on in the period with a re-direct by the rookie Wintoneak in front of Whiffen.
Aaron Richards assisted on both first period goals, bringing his season point total to eight. The Dinos led 11-5 in shots in the period, with Regina only receiving one realistic chance shortly after the Dinos' first goal, where the puck sat untouched in Calgary's crease before being swept away.
Regina would come back stronger in the second period, generating two terrific chances in the later stages, which Lazaruk would deny in dramatic fashion. Using a poke-check on a shorthanded breakaway by Lucas Isley, Lazaruk snapped the puck into the air and then into his glove which stopped the play. Shortly thereafter the rookie netminder would stack the pads to deny Adam MacPherson an open look on the right side of the net to once again keep the Cougars off of the scoresheet.
Brock Nixon hit a post in the second period for Calgary after beating Whiffen, while Reid Jorgensen and Cory Pritz couldn't finish a 2 on 1 opportunity to help pad the Dinos' lead. The Dinos took three penalties in the second period, which seemed to boost the spirits of the Cougars.
Neither team would generate much of anything in the third period, where Regina would get only four shots in total. The Cougars couldn't get a shot on goal during the only power play of the final stanza, which was a six on four opportunity in the last minute and a half with Whiffen on the bench.
Head coach Mark Howell was pleased with the victory, but knows that they must play more disciplined.
“I thought we were fairly sloppy defensively tonight, and we need to have better control of the puck,” said Howell. “But those are games we have to win, and we found a way to do it.”
“Two points is two points, and at this time of year we'll take them however we can get them.”
Calgary and Regina will play the weekend rematch tomorrow night, with the game once again going at Max Bell Arena at 7 p.m. MT.
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