LETHBRIDGE – Fans at the Nicholas Sheran Arena on Friday thought their Lethbridge Pronghorns finally had the University of Calgary Dinos on their heels heading into the final minutes of the third period, but the visitors rallied late to score in the third and again in overtime, taking down the Pronghorns 3-2.
First-star
Matt Alfaro scored the game winner for the Dinos halfway through the first overtime period, winning the away leg of this weekend's home-and-home series for the Dinos against the Pronghorns. Lethbridge's Luke Coleman was given second star honours for scoring both of his team's goals.
Calgary's starting goalie
Brodan Salmond turned aside 23 of 25 shots in the win, while Lethbridge's Taz Burman made 54 saves in the overtime loss and was named the game's third star for his effort.
Putting his number in the scoring column first was Calgary's
Luke Harrison, thanks to an offensive zone faceoff win by
Tim Vanstone and a quick press by
Chris Rauckman to get him the puck off the goal-line boards.
Early in the third period, Calgary would see themselves on the receiving end of two penalty calls and a short 30-second five-on-three penalty kill. The Dinos were able to survive the Pronghorns two-man advantage but could not make it through the penalty kill before the 'Horns netted their first of the game.
Following a failed breakout attempt by the Dinos, Lethbridge maintained possession of the puck. Landon Gross, in control of the puck, found Dallas Valentine at the high point and he fired a slap shot on Salmond, who made the initial save. Coleman sat up front of the Dinos net and potted the rebound quickly to tie the game up at one.
Just over two minutes later, Lethbridge was gifted another power play opportunity, on which they also capitalized. After picking up Russell Maxwell's missed shot, Coleman sent and received a pass from Torrin White that he one-timed past Salmond on the far-side top corner to give his team their first lead of the game.
Calgary's share of the game's momentum would lean in their favour nearing the end of the final frame when they pulled their goalie for the extra attacker. Cycling the puck in the offensive zone,
Ryan Gagnon got the puck to
Jordan Xavier, whose shot from the near-side point goes through a screen and past Burman, to tie the game and force the game to overtime.
In the extra frame, Calgary was able to secure momentum thanks to a penalty to Lethbridge's Owen Guenter. While they were unable to score on the power play, a great breakout play kickstarted by
Ryan Gagnon led to the game winner, just as Guenter left the box.
Dallas Hines received the push-up pass from Gagnon, sent a stretch pass to
Matt Alfaro who shook off Wardley at the blue line, and Alfaro's low glove-side shot fooled Burman to end the game in favour of the Dinos.
The final game of the home-and-home series takes place Saturday, November 22, at the Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary, Alberta. Puck drop is at 6 PM. Catch all the action on www.canadawest.tv, presented by Co-op.
