BOX SCORE EDMONTON – Needing just a win to clinch first place in the Canada West standings, the No. 1-ranked University of Alberta Golden Bears took it to their provincial rivals, beating the No. 4 University of Calgary Dinos 6-3 at the Clare Drake Arena on Friday night.

While the Golden Bears controlled the tempo the entire night, the Dinos undoing came in the second period as they surrendered three unanswered goals. Alberta scored five-straight before Calgary managed a pair of late goals. Johnny Lazo led the home team with a goal and three assists.

With only one game left, Alberta sits with a record of 24-2-1. Calgary drops to 21-3-3 on the year and 6-2-2 in their last 10 games.

Following a lengthy pre-game ceremony where they honoured their senior players, the Golden Bears jumped out to a strong start. Alberta was able to take advantage, hemming Calgary in their own end and capitalized midway through the first period. After a scramble beside the left post, Johnny Lazo feed Thomas Carr who fired one past a diving Jacob DeSerres. The tally was Carr's third of the season.

After surrendering the game's first goal, Calgary began to sustain some offensive pressure. Drydn Dow wired one of Calgary's five shots in the period past Kurtis Mucha, tying the game with his third of the year at 12:29 of the first.

Alberta regained the lead with a goal just seconds into the middle frame while on the power play. Receiving a pass from first-year T.J. Foster in the right corner, Sean Ringrose took the puck in the center lane and notched his 14th goal of the season.

Torrie Dyck and Brett Ferguson extended the Alberta lead to 4-1 with markers at the 11:59 and 17:05 mark of the second period. Calgary couldn't find an answer for the Alberta attack as they were outshot 11-4 in the stanza.

In the third period, the Golden Bears poured it on with two more goals. Jordan Rowley and Lazo scored power play goals before Walker Wintoneak and Giffen Nyren responded to round out the scoring.

Alberta outshot Calgary in the game 35-19. The Dinos were 1-7 on the power play, while the Golden Bears went 3-7.

These two teams will be back in action in the final game of the regular season on February 16 at the Father David Bauer Arena. Sunday's game at home will mark Senior's night for the fifth-year Dinos. Blake Clement, Cory Pritz, Taylor Stefishen and Mark Stojan will all be honoured pre-game.

Both Alberta and Calgary have already earned a bye through the opening round of the Canada West playoffs. The teams will be back in action on Friday, Mar. 7 in their respective cities as they welcome an opponent to be determined next week.  

-UC-