EDMONTON – Missing several key forwards, the University of Calgary Dinos men's hockey team overcame another early deficit to defeat the MacEwan Griffins 6-4 at the Downtown Community Arena.

Two-thirds of the Dinos' top offensive unit were out of the lineup as Jake Gricius and Riley Stotts missed Saturday's contest. First-year forwards Adam Kydd and Jake Poole stepped up with two goals each as Calgary kept pact atop the conference at 16-3-1, remaining a point ahead of UBC.

In one of their finest efforts of the season, MacEwan closed to within a goal of the top team in Canada West before an empty-netter with 11.7 seconds left sealed their fate. The Griffins fall to 6-13-1 but stay three points up on Regina for the sixth and final playoff spot.

Jordan Taupert gave the Griffins an early goal for a second-straight night against the Dinos when he potted the rebound of Kole Gable's wraparound attempt on the power play just 2:41 into the contest.

Loeden Schaufler made it 2-0 midway through the first period, finishing off a passing play from Carter Chorney and Ethan Strang.

After Calgary struck back to tie it early in the second on goals from Kydd and Mack Stewart, Ryan restored MacEwan's lead on a rebound 3:25 into the middle frame.

But like they were in Friday's come-from-behind 6-4 win over the Griffins in Calgary, the Dinos were relentless in the second period, showing the speed and execution that makes them a national championship contender. Poole wired a wicked shot bar down to tie the game a minute-and-a-half after Ryan's goal.

Zach Wytinck's tally followed less than two minutes later as Calgary found its first lead of the game. 

Kydd scored the eventual game-winner 47 seconds into the third period when he batted Jadon Joseph's rebound out of mid-air over goalie Eric Ward's head from in tight after being pushed into the crease.

MacEwan wasn't done yet, however, as Scott won the puck along the wall, sped in on a breakaway, and beat Carl Tetachuk glove side to pull the Griffins within one with 9:41 left. 

Poole salted the result away with a late empty-net goal.

Tetachuk made 20 saves for Calgary, while Ward stopped 35.

Next up for the Dinos is a home-and-home set against the Alberta Golden Bears, while the Griffins will visit UBC on Jan. 12-13.

-UC-