CALGARY – The University of Alberta Golden Bears opened a three-goal lead in the second period and held on for a 3-2 result over the University of Calgary Dinos men's hockey team to kick off a home-and-home set on Friday night.

The win at Father David Bauer Arena moves Alberta to 15-4-2 for the season and puts them one point behind the Dinos in the Canada West standings. Calgary slips to 16-4-1 for the season and loses their grasp on first place.

"It's a battle for first with two good teams," commented Dinos head coach Mark Howell. "To win these games, you have to find a different level of compete, and you can't be inconsistent."

Despite aggressive efforts from both teams, the game remained scoreless after one period. The first goal came less than two minutes into the middle frame and was the first of three by the Golden Bears in a five-minute spurt. 

Tyler Preziuso scored the first goal by sneaking the puck under Dinos goaltender Carl Stankowski's pad from the middle of the zone. Alberta team captain Josh Prokop shot one in off the post while on a power play to double the lead. Then, Noah Boyko made it 3-0 by putting the puck into the top left corner with a wrist shot off Stankowski's blocker.

The Dinos responded on the power play late in the second with Connor Gutenberg scoring top-shelf after a setup by Max Patterson.

The deficit was cut to one in the early stages of the third period on a terrific effort by Carter Massier. Taking the puck from newcomer Aidan Sutter, Massier pulled away from the Golden Bears' defence to score a highlight reel goal on Alberta netminder Ethan Kruger. 

Despite a six-on-four Dinos power play with less than two minutes left in the game, the Golden Bears were able to hold on with some timely saves by Kruger and blocks by the defence.

"In the third we pushed, but coming back from three nothing is difficult," noted Howell. 

The Dinos and Golden Bears travel north for the rematch at Clare Drake Arena on Saturday at 7 p.m.