From University of Lethbridge Athletics
LETHBRIDGE – Making up games in hand on rest of the conference, the Lethbridge Pronghorns and UBC Thunderbirds squared off in the lone series in Canada West men’s hockey this weekend. The result was in doubt for 58 minutes, but with three goals in less than a minute, the Horns broke the game open and came away with a much needed 6-2 win.
With the win, the Horns move out of the basement and improve to 5-5-3, only three points out of third in the conference. UBC falls to the same record as the Horns in a tie for fifth.
“It was a lot closer than a 6-2 game,” said Head Coach Greg Gatto. “I still think we go outworked and if we don`t come prepared tomorrow we will be in a lot of trouble."
Brian Matte scored the lone goal of the opening period, his third in as many games versus UBC. Matte broke in on the left wing and snapped a shot past T-Bird starter Jordan White. Shots after the opening frame favoured the Thunderbirds 10-7.
It didn’t take the Thunderbirds long to knot the score at one in the second period. Just past the three minute mark, Ben Schmidt intercepted a Horns clearing a attempt and found Justin McCrae, who wired a shot blocker side on Horns’ keeper Scott Bowles.
Before the period was out, the Horns received a fortunate bounce; Ryan Pottruff stepped just over the center line and his slap shot eluded White to put the Horns back up, 2-1. Lethbridge turned the table on the T-Birds in the shot tally, outshooting the T-Birds 10-8.
Just past the midway point of the third, off a two-on-one, captain Dustin Moore broke in with winger Andrew Courtney. With Courtney keeping White honest, Moore blasted a slap shot from right circle, top corner to put the Horns up two.
Pulling a puck around a sliding Horns forward, defender Ryan Kakoske stepped to the top of the circles and beat Bowles glove side to cut the Horns’ lead back to one, with more than four minutes remaining.
While the T-Birds amped up the pressure, the Horns were able to weather the storm immediately following the T-Birds second goal. With the T-Birds taking some extra chances, Andrew Courtney was sprung by Moore for a partial breakaway, making no mistake picked the low blocker on White, regaining the Horns’ two goal lead.
Bowles was solid for the Horns making 21 saves, while White turned away 16 Horns shots in the loss.
The Horns and Thunderbirds will wrap up the weekend series and the first semester of conference action tomorrow night at 7:00pm at Nicholas Sheran Arena.
Webcast for tomorrow night’s action can be found at: http://www.educationcdn.com/schools/pronghorns/
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