CALGARY – In just 90 seconds, the Calgary Dinos ripped back momentum in game one of the best-of-three Canada West Semi-Finals, scoring three consecutive goals in the third period to stun the visiting Saskatchewan Huskies by a final score of 4-2.
BOX SCORE
The three quick strikes effectively snuffed out any steam the Huskies may have gained in a second period where they out-shot the Dinos 19-10. This included a 17-3 advantage in the early parts of the frame, which they parlayed into the early 2-1 advantage.
In the victory, the Dinos own a 1-0 series lead and now have two chances to close the Huskies out at home. The winner of the semi-final series will play the winner of Alberta and Manitoba next weekend for the title of Canada West champion. Both teams in the conference finals will earn a berth at the University Cup in Fredericton, N.B., which goes March 24-27.
Alberta was victorious in game one of their series with Manitoba, defeating the Bisons in a 4-0 result.
Tyler Swystun's hard work set-up fifth-year senior Jevon Desautels for the one-timer on the tying goal in the third, just 19 seconds before Aaron Richards banged home his own rebound to take the 3-2 lead. Jerrid Sauer would use the wrap around to establish the 4-2 lead, throwing it off of Saskatchewan goaltender David Reekie's skate and in, forcing head coach Dave Adolph into the timeout.
Calgary head coach Mark Howell called a time-out of his own shortly after Kyle Ross' second goal of the second period, in an attempt to calm the Dinos down as they stared at the 17-3 shot disadvantage.
It evidently worked, shifting both the momentum of the game and the series. Howell commented after the game.
“We were standing around and watching in that second period, and they took it to us,” said the second-year head coach. “Both goals were tough second efforts on their part. At the timeout we reminded them to just stop turning the puck over and just play, and I think we relaxed from there.
“We were trying to attack their defence with our team speed, and Swystun did a great job of it in the third, getting it over to Jevon for the goal,” continued Howell. “I thought Richards was great in the third as well; he played determined, and his persistence on that second goal was what did it for him.”
Colton Grant put the Dinos ahead in the first frame on a terrific pass from reigning Husky-WHL Graduate of the Month Reid Jorgensen, who put his rookie teammate in a wide-open position to score with the back-hand pass.
The goal was the only converted chance of the period where both teams had great chances. Reekie sprawled out to corral a high tip from Torrie Wheat in the early stages of the period; while Michael Kaye had Dinos goaltender Dustin Butler beat just moments after Calgary's goal, but not the right post.
Kyle Ross had the best luck of any Huskie on the night, putting two pucks behind Butler during the second period shooting frenzy for the 2-1 advantage. The captain scored his first on the power-play, shovelling a shot past Butler from his stomach, while the second was a put-back off of a blocked shot. Both Ross and Kyle Bortis had six shots on the night, while Kaye had five.
Butler made 34 saves in the victory, while Reekie stopped 27 for the Huskies. Both teams will battle again tomorrow night at Father David Bauer in game two, with the third game set for Sunday if necessary. Puck-drop is at 7 p.m. both nights.
-UC-
