CALGARY – Special teams were once again the difference as the UBC Thunderbirds won their second straight over the University of Calgary Dinos men's hockey team by a score of 5-2 on Saturday afternoon at Father David Bauer Arena. 

The Thunderbirds picked up where they left off in Friday night's game, generating the first few high-danger scoring chances early. After two crossbars in the first couple minutes, the Thunderbirds drew a tripping call on Dinos defenceman Connor Horning seven minutes in.

It took only six seconds for the UBC power play to take advantage, as Jake Lee put one past Carl Stankowski on a one-timer from the slot. It was another rough start for Calgary's penalty kill, which head coach Mark Howell noted needed to be much better after last night.

"When you lose face-offs on the penalty kill, you're chasing right away," said Howell. "And when you go down early, it's hard to come back against good teams."

The Dinos got their chances to tie it up, but back-to-back posts from Wyatt Wilson and Hayden Pakkala kept the Thunderbirds up one.

After an unsuccessful Calgary power play, Thunderbirds defenceman Alex Serraglio jumped out of the box into a two-on-one, kept, and made no mistake, beating Stankowski blocker side. The Thunderbirds would get another power play late in the first, but the Dinos penalty kill stood strong, keeping the score 2-0 UBC after one.

Calgary played much better to begin the second, controlling play and outshooting UBC for the first half of the period. Hayden Pakkala had a chance to bring the Dinos within one midway through but was stopped on a breakaway by Thunderbirds netminder Brett Mirwald, trying to put it glove side.

"I think in the second, we had some good offensive zone time, for sure," said Howell. "We didn't have a lot of that last night, so we've got to keep growing from it."

Carl Stankowski stood on his head on a UBC power play 13 minutes into the second, making three massive saves, including a glove save on a rebound that looked like a sure goal. 

Calgary's power play was given another chance to bring the game within one late in the frame, but 30 seconds into the man advantage, Thunderbirds forward Cyle McNabb roofed one short side on a two-on-one, giving UBC a 3-0 lead heading into the third.

Still on the power play to begin the third, Gavin Schmidt finally put Calgary on the board after a rebound landed on his stick beside the net. The goal looked like it woke Calgary up, and the Dinos drew another penalty just two minutes later. But the Thunderbirds penalty kill once again shut Calgary down, keeping the score 3-1.

Just before the halfway mark of the third, UBC forward Chris Douglas beat a screened Stankowski to restore the three-goal Thunderbirds lead. The goal from the slot was Douglas' 12th of the season.

With nine minutes left to play, a beautiful pass from Connor Horning set up Hayden Pakkala's 11th of the season, a tip-in from in front to get the Dinos back within two. But it was too little too late, as the Thunderbirds would add an empty-netter, winning 5-2 and taking both games over the Dinos this weekend.

The Thunderbirds are back in action Jan. 22 at Trinity Western University to take on the Spartans. The Dinos next game comes Jan. 29, the most anticipated game of the year, the Crowchild Classic at the Scotiabank Saddledome against the Mount Royal Cougars.

-UC-