Lethbridge, AB – After a wild six goal opening period, the Calgary Dinos held off the Lethbridge Pronghorns for a weekend sweep of the home-and-home series with a 5-4 win.
The loss drops the Pronghorns to 8-7-3 on the season but they are still within striking distance of third and fourth place, trailing the Alberta Golden Bears and Mount Royal Cougars by four points.
The Dinos improve to 12-5-1, good for second place in the conference and will enter next weekend riding a three game winning streak.
It was a busy first period for both teams as they both came out physical and combined to score six goals.
Dinos would get on the board first as a mad scramble in front of Pronghorn goaltender Garret Hughson would ensue, the puck would come to Dinos forward Elgin Pearce, who made no mistake to put the visitors up 1-0.
Brandon Clowes would even the game up as he wrapped the puck around the net to tie the game at one on a delayed penalty call
Following a turnover by the 'Horns at the Calgary blue line, the Dinos would capitalize shorthanded on a two-on-one, as Dylan Busenius' shot beat Hughson high glove to regain the Dinos lead.
Shortly after their second goal, the Dinos would push the lead to 3-1 as Drydn Dow picked up his third of the season just after the penalty expired
Clowes would come up big again for the Pronghorns, corralling a loose puck high in the slot and beat Matthew Greenfield high glove for his second goal of the game.
Dinos would continue to pressure the Pronghorns defensive zone as Cain Franson took a pass from the left corner and went high blocker to regain the Dino two goal lead and round out the scoring in a wild first period.
'Horns would end up out shooting the Dinos 14-9 in the first period, but trailed 4-2.
Fifth-year goaltender Damien Ketlo replaced Hughson at the start of the second period, which seemed to spark the 'Horns.
Early in the second period, Clint Filbrandt's slapshot from the blue line beat Greenfield blocker side to bring the 'Horns back to within one.
After the 'Horns third goal, both teams continued to trade offensive zone chances and the physical play increased as the period went on.
Best chance for the Pronghorns came off a shorthanded opportunity as Arty Kalashnikov raced into the Dinos zone, beating a defender, but not the Dinos netminder.
Shots after the second period still favoured the Pronghorns 32-18.
The final frame started much like the opening two periods began, with both teams playing the physical game and trading equal scoring opportunities.
Both teams would continue to play strong defensively for the first half of the third period, until Dinos newcomer Parker Bowles picked up his third goal in his first two games as a Dino.
After the Dinos scored their fifth goal, Russel Maxwell broke away from the Dinos defensemen to give himself a breakaway, but a big shoulder save by the Matthew Greenfield would keep the game at 5-3.
The 'Horns would finally break though with just under seven minutes to play, as Sam McKechnie would get off a great shot in the slot to score his fourth of the season
Pushing hard to complete the comeback, the 'Horns would outshoot the Dinos again the third, 14-4 and 45-22 on the night but suffered their second consecutive loss to the Dinos.
Matthew Greenfield made 41 saves to earn the victory, while Garrett Hughson would take the loss for the 'Horns as he stopped five out of nine shots. Damien Ketlo would make twelve saves in a relief apparence.
The 'Horns will face another home-and-home weekend next weekend but will face the Mount Royal Cougar this time, starting Friday night in Calgary. The Dinos will head to Saskatoon to face the Huskies in a matchup of the top two teams in the conference.
