VANCOUVER – Despite outscoring the visiting Lethbridge Pronghorns 3-1 in the second period, the UBC Thunderbirds lost a chippy Friday night battle 5-4 at the Doug Mitchell Winter Sports Centre.
Jason Roberts had the game-winner midway through the third period for the visitors. Mike Wurchterl's pass from the left wing hit the side of the net, and Roberts was able to collect the puck and tuck it just inside the post before UBC goalie
Francois Thuot could reposition himself.
The Pronghorns were down 4-3 at the beginning of the third period, but they managed to pull even quickly. So quickly, in fact, that play continued for a few seconds before the referee blew it dead and called the goal. Lucio Pucci-Daniele's shot from the side of the net was in and out of the goal so fast that many players didn't see it happen and continued to play on.
UBC was in a 2-0 hole less than four minutes into the contest, as some sloppy play in the defensive end led to two Pronghorn goals just 32 seconds apart.
Andrew Courtney picked up the first one, as he beat two UBC defenders to a rebound in the slot and flipped it over Thuot, who was down on the ice after the initial save effort.
Adam Chorneyko followed suit shortly after, as he had the third shot of the scoring chance, after Thuot stopped the first two, and was able to bury it to double the Lethbridge lead.
The home side managed to pull one back late in the frame thanks to a bizarre bounce off the end boards.
Brennan Sonne's dump-in from centre ice caught an edge when it hit the corner of the boards near the gate and it bounced right out in front of goal, where
Jason Lynch buried it before Lethbridge goalie Scott Bowles could get back in net.
But the visitors got their karmic revenge early in the second, when the exact same type of play ended up winning them a penalty shot. A Lethbridge dump-in bounced off the same corner of the boards and came right out in front of the UBC goal, and a penalty shot was awarded to Courtney after a T-Bird defender covered the puck in the crease during the scramble that ensued. Courtney made no mistake, snapping a low shot past Thuot's blocker to make it a 3-1 Lethbridge lead.
Matt Schneider and
Justin McCrae both tallied for UBC late in the second, but the 'Birds were unable to protect their 4-3 lead in the third.
Seven penalties and two misconducts were handed out in the second period, as several post-whistle confrontations broke out between the two sides. Both teams had their hitting pads on as well, as big body checks and physical play were the hallmarks of Friday's contest.
The win vaults Lethbridge out of the Canada West basement, improving them to 4-8-1 on the year, while UBC replaces them at the bottom of the standings with a record of 3-7-1.
The 'Birds will have a chance to reverse that standings swap tomorrow however, as they will square off with the Pronghorns once again at the Doug Mitchell Winter Sports Centre. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
Â
