CALGARY – Three-point performances by
Matt Alfaro and
Coda Gordon propelled the University of Calgary Dinos to an early lead on Friday night as they eventually held on for a 4-3 win against the Mount Royal Cougars at the Father David Bauer Arena.
The Dinos finish the two-game set with three out of a possible four points, responding from a 5-4 double overtime loss on Thursday. Calgary now trails Mount Royal by one point in the standings.
"That is a good team over on the other side of the bench and its always fun to play them," said Dinos head coach
Mark Howell after the win over their Crowchild Classic rival.
Mount Royal's goaltending set the tone early in the first period as Wyatt Hoflin robbed
Kaden Elder on what looked certain to be the opening goal.
Elder got his redemption halfway through the frame on the power play. Alfaro worked his way into the offensive zone and found Gordon on the right side before feeding Elder at the back door to open the scoring.
With teams playing at four-on-four in the final minute of the first, the Dinos doubled their lead.
Chris Rauckman was given just enough space on the left side for him to pick the top right corner of the net with just four seconds remaining on the clock.
The Dinos kept the offence coming in the second period with
TJ Brown and Alfaro scoring within 45 seconds of each other to extend their team's lead to 4-0.
After a goaltending switch, Mount Royal began to develop some momentum and ended the period with a goal by Nolan Yaremko.
Thursday night's overtime hero Chris Gerrie made things interesting in the third period as he beat Dinos netminder
Brodan Salmond twice to cut the deficit to one.
Despite applying pressure with an extra attacker late in the game, the Cougars were unable to find the equalizer.
The Dinos will get set to face the Lethbridge Pronghorns next weekend in a home-and-home affair starting at Nicholas Sheran Arena on Friday night.
Mount Royal turns their attention to the UBC Thunderbirds, who make the trip to Calgary next weekend.
