CALGARY – While an overtime snipe from Ryan Pottruff secured the 2-1 victory for the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Saturday night, the point in the standings for the Calgary Dinos secured second place in Canada West as well as the right to host in the first round.
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Catching the Dinos on their heels, Pottruff raced over the blue-line all alone on the left side of Kris Lazaruk, beating the rookie keeper with just over two minutes to play in the extra frame. The victory was bittersweet for Lethbridge however, who knew midway through the second period that the Manitoba Bisons had upset the Saskatchewan Huskies by a score of 6-2, subsequently securing the fourth and final playoff spot which the two teams were battling for.
While the Huskies loss would have been enough on its own, the point in the standings ensured that the Dinos will now host Saskatchewan next weekend, who will undoubtedly be hungry to avenge the defeat to the Bisons on Saturday. Calgary was 1-3 against the Huskies this season, but won by a score of 4-1 earlier in November at Father David Bauer Arena.
With their second place finish, it is the Dinos' highest standing since 1997, when they were 22-3-3 and in first place. Calgary last hosted a first round playoff series in 2007-08, when six of the seven teams in Canada West were eligible for the postseason.
Head coach Mark Howell commented on the game, which took a dramatic turn in intensity once the score was available from Winnipeg.
“I thought we came out flat,” said Howell. “There was definitely a difference in the level of intensity and desperation to start with, as they were fighting for their playoff lives. That changed a little bit in the second half of the game, but our intensity still wasn't quite where it needed to be.
“We were going for the win, but unfortunately we got caught on a change in overtime there and couldn't come away with it,” Howell concluded.
Howell also commented on the importance of playing host in the first round of the playoffs next weekend.
“We know that we earned the right to host,” the second year coach said. “We played tough teams and we beat tough teams, and it feels really good to be rewarded for that. Now we need to do our part and take advantage.”
For the second straight night the Pronghorns struck before anyone in the stands could completely settle. Just 22 seconds in, Andrew Gilbert fired a shot on net, an area in which Tyler Feakes had just set up shop. The fourth year forward got his stick on it, tipping it up off of the post and past Kris Lazaruk, for his second success on the deflection in as many nights.
Calgary would answer in the third period on a shot from Aaron Richards, who put in the rebound from a Cory Pritz blast off of Reece St. Goddard's chest as he fell to the ice. It was the fifth-year's seventh goal of the year and third goal of the weekend. Calgary wouldn't get a shot in the overtime period, while Lethbridge's only shot was Pottruff's game-winner.
In the victory, St. Goddard made six saves in twenty minutes of action after taking over after the second intermission. With the Manitoba-Saskatchewan result known at that point, Lethbridge (13-10-5) let the fifth year senior play in his final game for the Pronghorns.
Lazaruk made 21 saves in the loss for Calgary, who finishes the season at 17-8-3.
The Dinos will now practice this week in familiar confines before welcoming the Huskies for the best-of-three series next weekend. Game times will be at 7 p.m. MT on Friday and Saturday, and again on Sunday should the game be necessary.
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