VANCOUVER - The Lethbridge Pronghorns (9-10-3) picked up their second big win of the weekend, defeating the UBC Thunderbirds (7-14-1) 8-0 in a scrappy, one-sided affair at Father Bauer Arena.
The game featured plenty of goals, big hits, scraps, and penalties, however, when it was all said and done, the 'Horns left Vancouver with a four-point weekend and placed themselves firmly in the Canada West playoff race.
Lethbridge is currently fifth in the conference standings two points behind the Saskatchewan Huskies for the final playoff spot. Saskatchewan holds a pair of games in hand over the 'Horns and will put those to use next weekend against the T-Birds while Lethbridge is idle.
UBC is now eight points behind Saskatchewan and will need a lot of help down the stretch to make the post season.
Adam Chorneyko had a huge night for the 'Horns, netting a natural hat trick and pocketing a pair of assists. Mark Shefchyk also had five points, one goal and four assists, and Andrew Marshall had four assists. Goalie Scott Bowles earned the shutout stopping all 31 T-Bird shots.
Francois Thuot made 12 saves on 17 shots through the first 35 minutes before being replace by
Jordan White who made 10 saves on 13 shots in relief.
Brian Matte opened the scoring for the Pronghorns late in the first period, potting his sixth of the year on a strong counter attack that was started by Tyler Feakes. Streaking down the boards from his own end, Feakes found Matte alone in the UBC slot with a Saucer and Matte one-timed is past Thuot at 14:31 of the first.
Lethbridge added their second of the game on the power play three minutes later with Jason Roberts banging home a rebound after a hard shot from the left boards found its way through a maze of players.
The 'Horns added to their lead over the middle frame, scoring on three times in the second period. Shefchyk made it 3-0 early in the second, tucking home a loose puck around the toe of an outstretched Thuot 76 seconds into the middle frame.
Lethbridge then made it 4-0 on a nice bit of work down a man. After Mike Wutchrel was sent to the dressing room for a major charging penalty, it was the 'Horns who took advantage with Logan Lavorato netting a short handed marker. Lavorato worked a 2-on-1 with Chorneyko and tipped a shot on net that went through Thuot's pads, off the post, and then sat in the crease until he poked it home.
Chorneyko added his first of the game on the power play five minutes later, firing home a wrist shot from the slot with 6:16 to play in the stanza. He then picked up another marker, his fourth point on the night, with 41 seconds left in the second as he finished off a nice bit of passing with a one timer from in close.
The natural hat trick was on when Chorneyko made it 7-0 with the 'Horns third power play goal of the contest, slotting home a tic-tac-toe passing play from in tight at the 5:14 mark of the third. Curtis Cooper added the 'Horns fourth goal with the extra man exactly two and a half minutes later.
Lethbridge finished the evening 4-of-6 on the power play while UBC was 0-of-4. The two teams combined for 25 penalties worthy of 109 PIM.
The T-Birds host the Huskies next weekend at 8 Rinks in Burnaby as the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre is being completely taken over for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The 'Horns resume their 2010 campaign against the Alberta Golden Bears in two weeks time.
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