Calgary, AB - The UBC Thunderbirds men's hockey team put themselves in a tough spot in the Canada West Quarterfinals, losing game 1, 3-1 to Calgary Friday night at the Max Bell Centre. With the victory, the Dinos take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3 series.
BOX SCORE
The difference in the game was the first 40 minutes, as the Thunderbirds were unable to generate any offensive momentum, firing just 10 shots on net. It was the opposite for Calgary, who managed 28 shots through two period, scoring on three of those shots.
Calgary dominated the opening period outshooting UBC 16-3, but it wasn't until the final minute of the frame when they finally got on the board. Brock Nixon beat
Jordan White (Surrey, BC) with 43 seconds left in the period to give the home team a 1-0 lead through 20 minutes of play.
The second period got off to a bad start for the Thunderbirds as
Linden Saip (White Rock, BC) took a double minor for high sticking. Fortunately UBC was able to kill if off, but just under three minutes later Nixon scored his second of the night to put the Dinos up 2-0. Calgary would add another goal on the power play as Corey Banfield beat White for his first goal of the playoffs and third point of the evening. Calgary led 3-0 through 40 minutes.
UBC finally started to show some life in the third period, but it would be too little too late.
Max Grassi (North Vancouver, BC) scored with 4:45 left in the game to cut the lead to 3-1, but that is as close as the 'Birds would come. The Dinos earned the 3-1 victory.
"We can't spend too much time worrying about this game, we need to rebound quickly," said UBC head coach Milan Dragicevic. "This is the playoffs. We have another game tomorrow to prove that we are a good team. We have graduating players that don't want to see their careers come to an end on Saturday night. Our guys need to realize that playing desperate hockey is what it takes in the playoffs."
Calgary outshot UBC 33-23. White made 30 saves, while Dustin Butler stopped 22 of 23 shots he faced in the Calgary goal. The Dinos finished the night 1-for-5 on the power play, while UBC went 0-for-2.
The Dinos line of Brock Nixon, Taylor Stefishen, and Corey Banfield, combined for seven points on the night.
Calgary takes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3 series. Game 2 is tomorrow night at 5:00 pm PST at the Max Bell Centre.
-30-
