VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds dropped their conference season opener in Calgary on Friday, losing 3-1 to the Dinos, who improve to 3-0-0 to begin the campaign.
Calgary defenceman Giffen Nyren continued his hot streak to start conference play, netting the game-winner at the 4:41 mark of the second period for his third goal of the season. He also assisted on Ryan Harrison's insurance goal midway through the third period, giving him a team-leading five points after three games.
Adam Kambeitz got the Dinos on the board five minuntes into the game, but fourth-year winger
Nate Fleming equalized for UBC with eight minutes to go in the first period, assisted by team captain
Ben Schmidt and his defensive partner
Neil Manning. The T-Birds outshot Calgary 12-10 in the first and generated the game's first powerplay opportunity at the end of the period, but couldn't push ahead before the intermission.
After the break, the Dinos settled in defensively, holding UBC to six shots in each of the final two periods, all of which Kris Lazaruk turned away to get his second win of the season. He made 23 saves in total.Â
Steven Stanford stopped 25 of the 28 shots he faced between the pipes for UBC.Â
Both teams were stymied on the power play, with Calgary going 0-for-4 and UBC 0-for-3 with the man advantage.Â
"We need to score a goal on our power play and capitalize on our chances to be successful in our league," said UBC head coach Milan Dragicevic. "That was the difference tonight."
The Dinos are 3-0-0 to start conference play after sweeping past Regina on the road last week. They have won five straight games overall going back to the preseason.
For the T-Birds, it's an 0-1-0 start and a three-game skid counting their most recent preseason action. They get another shot at the Dinos on Saturday at 5 p.m. before returning to Vancouver next weekend to start a stretch where they will play eight of their next 12 games at home.Â
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