Saskatoon, SK - A dramatic comeback came up just short in Saskatchewan as the UBC Thunderbirds men's hockey team fell 4-3 in a shootout to the Huskies Saturday night at Rutherford Rink in Saskatoon, SK. However, the 'Birds finish the weekend series with three of a possible four points with six games remaining in the regular season schedule.
BOX SCORE
Down 3-0 heading into the final period, the Thunderbirds dominated the frame outshooting the Huskies 16-4 and scoring three unanswered goals to send the game into overtime. Unfortunately they would have to settle for the single point as Saskatchewan won in a shootout. Jake Trask scored in the fifth round to end the comeback and give the home side a 4-3 victory.
Steven Stanford (Calgary, AB) got the call in net for UBC, going head to head with Ryan Holfeld for the Huskies, who started his 21st game of the season. The Huskies opened up the scoring 9:37 into the first period as Cody Smuk beat Stanford to put Saskatchewan up 1-0. That is how things would stand after 20 minutes. Shots were 11-9 in favour of the Huskies.
Saskatchewan added to their lead just over four minutes into the second period, courtesy of Brandon Herrod. The rookie scored his eighth goal of the year to increase the Huskies lead to 2-0. They weren't done there, Matthew Spafford potted his second goal of the season at the 13:59 mark of the frame to give Saskatchewan a 3-0 lead through two periods of play. UBC fired 11 shots on net in the period, but Holfeld stopped them all.
Thanks to the Huskies undisciplined play, the Thunderbirds got their chances in the third period on the man advantage. Finally,
Cole Wilson (White Rock, BC) would break the ice scoring his team leading 12th goal of the year on a 5-on-3 power play to cut the lead to 3-1. It would remain that way until less then seven minutes remaining in regulation when
Nate Fleming (St. Albert, AB) and
Max Grassi (North Vancouver, BC) scored 27 seconds apart to tie the game at 3-3. The Thunderbirds outshot the Huskies 16-4 in the frame to send the game into overtime.
In extra time, UBC had their chances including five shots in 3-on-3 hockey, but were unable to score the game winner. It went to a shootout and in the fifth round, Saskatchewan's Jake Trask scored the winner to give the Huskies a 4-3 win, snapping their three game losing skid.
"I'm proud of the character the guys showed tonight," said head coach Milan Dragicevic. "Down 3-0, we kept working and working and were rewarded with a point. We had enough chances to win in overtime, but it wasn't meant to be."
The final shots were 42-32 for the Thunderbirds. Stanford made 29 saves in a losing cause, while Holfeld made 39 saves in the win.
UBC finished the night 1-for-7 on the power play, while Saskatchewan went 0-for-4.
Nate Fleming was the leading point man for UBC, ending the night with a goal and an assist.
By picking up the single point UBC (12-7-3) has 27 points on the season and remains in fifth place in the Canada West, one point behind fourth place Calgary who defeated Manitoba in double overtime Saturday night. The Huskies (15-7-0) move back into second place. They are tied in points with Manitoba with 30, but Saskatchewan has more wins, so the Bisons currently sit in third place. Alberta is comfortably in first place, six points up on the second place Huskies.
With just six games remaining on the schedule, the Thunderbirds will return home for a weekend series with Mount Royal on January 25-26. Game times are 7:00 pm Friday night and 2:30 pm Saturday afternoon.
