EDMONTON – Firing from everywhere while scoring two goals in each of the first two periods, the No. 1-ranked University of Alberta Golden Bears took Game 1 of the Canada West Final 5-2 over the No. 4 University of Calgary Dinos on Thursday night at the Clare Drake Arena.

Looking to avenge a conference final loss to the Golden Bears in 2014, the Dinos took to the ice aiming to shut down one of the most potent offences in the country. Calgary kept the score close through the first half of the game, but as the wall was cracking at one end, the Dinos' attack was struggling come up with a response. In their shot-friendly home rink, Alberta collected 39 shots on goal, while Calgary was held to a season-low of just nine.

The Golden Bears now lead the best-of-three Canada West Final 1-0.

Creating some early pressure in close, the Golden Bears netted the first goal of the night three minutes into the contest. With Kris Lazaruk battling to push bodies out of his crease and regain control of his stick, Joshua Derko sneaked a shot through a partial screen for his first of the playoffs.

Trying to keep the score tight with Alberta buzzing, Calgary tied the game on a power play at 13:34 mark. An initial shot by Spencer Edwards created a rebound on the left side where Elgin Pearce beat Kurtis Mucha for his second goal of the playoffs.

The score didn't remain tied for long.  Less than a minute later, Brett Ferguson had his attempt from the left side deflect off a defender and through Lazaruk to make it 2-1 after 20 minutes.

With a penalty to the Dinos expiring in the opening minute of the middle frame, the Golden Bears doubled their edge. A cross-ice pass spotted Kruise Reddick at the right side of the goal where he fired home his second of the post-season.

Ferguson added his second of the game on the power play at the 8:29 mark to make it 4-1 after two periods.

Jacob DeSerres found himself between the pipes for the third period as he came in relief of Lazaruk. Alberta would find the back of the net one more time in the third at the 6:50 mark – but it didn't come without consequences. After Stephane Legault scored, a melee ensued between both sides with the Golden Bears emerging with a four-minute power play.

Tempers continued to flair throughout the remainder of the game with 11 misconducts being handed out.

Brooks Myers rounded out the scoring half way through the third period as he skated in on a shorthanded odd-man rush and rang a shot off the crossbar and in.

The Dinos went 1-for-7 on the power play, while the Golden Bears went 1-for-8.

This series resumes Friday night, March 6, from the Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton. If necessary, Game 3 will take place on Saturday, March 7. Puck drop for both games is scheduled for 7 p.m., live on CanadaWest.tv.

-UC-