EDMONTON - Despite a trio of chances in the overtime sessions, the No.1 ranked University of Alberta Golden Bears hockey suffered their first home loss of the season as they dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the No. 10 ranked University of Calgary Dinos Saturday night at Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton.

The Dinos, who lost 2-1 the night before in Calgary to Alberta, got the winning tally of the stick of Spencer Edwards, just his second game back since a year off from injury, to beat Golden Bears' goalie Kurtis Mucha low and inside the post. Alberta skaters Torrie Dyck, Kruise Reddick and Sean Ringrose were all stopped by Dinos goaltender Dustin Butler, while Mucha stopped Brock Nixon.

Both Mucha and Butler were sharp on the night, but it was Butler who earned the victory thanks in large part to a number of clutch saves. The fifth-year goalie, a former Prince Albert Raider, made 36 saves on the night, including a pair of stops on Golden Bear breakaways in double OT. He was also lucky as Johnny Lazo had the game winning puck on his stick in the second overtime session only to ring it off the crossbar.

Calgary's penalty kill, second best in Canada West, also deserves full marks for the win on Saturday as they successfully killed eight of 10 power-play opportunities against. The Golden Bears came into the contest with the conference's No.1 power-play unit as well.

Although the Dinos needed nearly 30 minutes to register their first even strength shot on goal, they led 1-0 after 20 minutes of play thanks to a beauty passing play with the man advantage. Defenceman Kodie Curran snuck in from his blue-line point position and received a perfect cross-ice, back-door pass which he one-timed into the top half of the net at 15:08 of the first. It was just Calgary's second shot on goal, with both coming on the same power-play. Corey Banfield and Cory Pritz drew the assists.

Lazo replied for Alberta in the second, when he snapped the puck past Butler and into the top corner, while on the PP, at 12:59. Reddick and defenceman Jesse Craige picked up the helpers.

But, before the period was over, the Dinos climbed back in front when Colton Grant shoveled a loose puck past Mucha for his first of the season at the 15:40 mark. Despite being outshot 17-9, Calgary led 2-1 after 40 minutes.

The Golden Bears continued to press, but despite the increasing lead on the shot clock, couldn't beat Butler for the equalizer, until, with less than six minutes to go, Jordan Rowley blew a power-play slap-shot past Butler for the game tying goal, and a crucial point in the Canada West standings.

A high-sticking call against the Golden Bears late in the 3^rd meant that the Dinos started the 4-on-4 first OT period with an extra attacker. Although both teams generated decent chances, neither could find the game winning goal.

In the second OT, the 3-on-3 period, the Bears really came to life and tested Butler. Reddick took a beautiful outlet pass from Craige early in the double OT frame, and walked in on the Dinos' goalie, but was turned away. Moments later, the Dinos rang a shot off the cross-bar behind Mucha to keep it a 2-2 game. Lazo, Alberta's second leading scorer, then got his chance to race in on Butler all alone, but he too was stymied. 

Alberta was then afforded a power-play opportunity when Taylor Stefishen was busted for hooking deep in the Dinos' zone. After winning the draw, Craige walked into the middle of the ice, faked a shot and fed Reddick to right of the Dinos' goal, who slapped a pass, cross-crease, to a wide open Lazo who then rang his empty-net chance off the cross-bar. 

Butler then stoned both Torrie Dyck and Ringrose in the shootout, while Mucha, who stopped Nixon, was beaten by Edwards before Reddick was denied by Butler for the win. 

Alberta remains first in the conference standings with a 19-4-1 record, and they sit five points ahead of second place Manitoba. The Dinos improve their record to 15-9 on the season, good enough for 30 points and fourth place.

Both teams are back in action next weekend when Alberta hosts the 12-9-3 Regina Cougars, and Calgary travels to Saskatoon to tangle with the No.5 ranked Saskatchewan Huskies.