CALGARY – A dominant first 40 minutes by the No. 10 University of Calgary Dinos produced all the offence needed as they took a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-three Canada West Quarterfinals with a 3-1 victory over the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds at the Max Bell Centre.

The first line of the Dinos did all the damage for the home side on Friday night as team captain Brock Nixon, Corey Banfield and Taylor Stefishen all had multi-point nights.

“Those first two periods were two of the best we have played all season,” discussed the fifth-year Banfield. “All the guys were hard on pucks and making good plays, Nixy buried a couple and I scored on a rebound. We all just complement each other so well.”

“We got out quick, it took us a little while to get on the scoreboard, but we were really good in the first and second,” explained head coach Mark Howell. “Even when we got up 3-0 we were playing really well defensively. They brought a lot of pressure in the third and we didn't handle it as well as we wanted, so they demonstrated they are in this series as well.”

Fueled by two power play opportunities, Calgary carried the play throughout the opening period. Jordan White did as much as he could between the pipes for the Thunderbirds before the Dinos' hero from one year ago found the back of the net.

In the final minute of the first, a scramble ensued after a save by the UBC netminder bounced out into the slot. White reacted well to stop Stefishen, but Nixon grabbed the loose biscuit and wired it in for the first goal of the series.

The Thunderbirds escaped the opening stanza only down by one despite being outshot 16-3.

Momentum carried over to the second period for the Dinos as they continued to work UBC at both ends of the rink. At 7:06, Corey Banfield delivered a stellar pass to the right side for Nixon who wristed a shot past a sprawling White for his second of the evening.

On the power play at 14:18, Calgary extended their lead to 3-0. An initial shot by Cory Pritz from the point got through but was turned aside by White. On the doorstep Banfield picked up the puck and netted his first of the playoffs and third point of the contest.

In danger of falling behind in the series, the Thunderbirds pressed in the third period, looking for some type of offensive. While firing 13 shots at Dinos' goaltender Dustin Butler in the final stanza, UBC got on the score sheet at 15:15. Breaking into the zone from the left side, talented sniper Max Grassi notched his first of the postseason, drawing the visitors within two goals. The Thunderbirds pulled the goalie in the final minutes as they tried to inch closer to tying the game, but Grassi's goal rounded out the scoring in Game 1.

“They are going to look at game tape and likely realize the third period is more like how they are going to play,” mentioned Howell, looking at Saturday's rematch. “We have to make sure we are ready to make fast plays while playing at the same speed and intensity as they do.”

Butler saved 22 of the 23 shots he faced, while White stopped 30 Dinos attempts. UBC was scoreless on two power play chances, compared to Calgary who went one for five on the man advantage.

Game 2 of this best-of-three series will continue tomorrow night at the Max Bell Centre with a 7 p.m. puck drop. If UBC wins, the series will go to a decisive third game on Sunday night, 7 p.m., back at Father David Bauer Arena.

-UC-