VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds stumbled late, but in the end continued to roll, defeating the Lethbridge Pronghorns 5-3 on Friday night.
BOX SCORE
The win improves UBC to 9-7-3, good for 21 points and fourth place in the Canada West. The victory was an important one, as Manitoba also won on Friday to keep pace and stay two points behind the Thunderbirds. Defeating the Pronghorns also helps create some separation, as UBC is now six points ahead of seventh-place Lethbridge, who represent the “last team out” in the playoff race.
WHK: T-Birds v. 'Horns (Jan. 11, 2013) Gallery
“They need these points and they fought back to the very end,” said head coach
Graham Thomas. “Give them credit. We need to learn some lessons and build on this for tomorrow.”
The win also sets a new team record for most regular season victories.
Coming off a victory over Calgary last Saturday, there was some concern that UBC might come out taking Lethbridge lightly, too cheery with their own success. That worry was exacerbated when the Pronghorns struck first on a one-timer goal by Jenna-Marie Durnin. The goal came on the power play, a rarity for a UBC penalty-killing unit that has been very strong of late.
From there, however, the Thunderbirds woke up, scoring four straight goals across the first and second periods. The second period, in particular, was some of the best hockey the Thunderbirds have played all season, securing the offensive zone and maintaining pressure throughout.
Tatiana Rafter (Winnipeg, MB) was the first to strike, one-timing a pass from
Nicole Saxvik (North Vancouver, BC) home. Genevieve Carpenter-Boesch (Regina, SK) followed up shortly after, walking in off the half-boards and beating Shauntelle Parsons.
Cailie Hay then knocked home a puck that had bounced off the end-boards for her third of the season, with an assist going to the returning
Kaylee Chanakos (Nanaimo, BC). Christy Capozzi then snuck in from the point for the fourth team goal, burying a feed from
Rebecca Unrau (Humboldt, SK).
With the 4-1 lead, the Thunderbirds fell into their early-game malaise, letting the Pronghorns, who can be quick to strike, to sneak back into the game.
Just two minutes apart, Ashley Beattie and Kirsten Reeves beat
Danielle Dube (Vancouver, BC), who was more or less left alone. On the night, Dube made 31 saves.
“That was a little disappointing,” said Thomas. “Because in a 2-1 game against Calgary we kept our composure. We got away from that a bit tonight. Maybe we weren't used to having a three-goal lead. We've gotta take care of our zone first.”
A curious Lethbridge timeout helped UBC to regroup for the final three minutes and shut the door. Rafter also added an empty netter after a nice effort to keep the puck in the offensive zone, sealing the game at 5-3.
The Pronghorns will get another crack at the Thunderbirds on Saturday. The puck drops at 7 p.m. at The Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
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