VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds men's hockey team exploded for four goals in the third period to take the first game in a best-of-three series by a 5-0 margin against the Saskatchewan Huskies in the Canada West quarter-finals. Geordie Wudrick scored the first two goals of the game before Nate Fleming, Nick Buonassisi and Anthony Bardaro added tallies of their own to put UBC up 1-0 in the opening round of the playoffs in the best-of-three series. Steven Stanford got the shutout in a 22-save victory in his first career playoff start for the Thunderbirds, and first shutout of the 2013-2014 campaign.

"We were solid for 60 minutes," said UBC head coach Milan Dragicevic. "Special teams was the key; however, we haven't won anything yet. This is only part one of a long process. Saskatchewan is a great team and we need to be even better tomorrow."
 
The scoreless first was highly defensive with much of the action being kept to the outside, as both Stanford and Saskatchewan's Ryan Holfeld were perfect in the opening frame. UBC, who carried a 17.5 per cent rating on the power play during the regular season, was unable to convert on its only two opportunities in the opening frame.
 
UBC would draw first blood as Wudrick broke the deadlock and scored the first goal of the series even-strength to give the visiting team a one goal advantage at 19:11 of the second period. A Huskies turnover out front gave way for Cole Wilson to find Wudrick who made no mistake putting one home on Holfeld. Shots were 18 apiece as the two teams entered the dressing room ahead of the final frame.
 
Wudrick would add his second of the game on the first shot of the third period taking the wind out of the Huskies' sails in any attempt of a comeback. Wudrick has been a force ever since joining the T-Birds in early January, putting up 10 points in eight games to finish off the regular season.
 
The Thunderbirds weren't done there, however, as a flurry of goals would follow. Fleming, the third-year veteran, scored his first career playoff goal midway through the third on a shorthanded break to give the Thunderbirds a three-goal advantage.
 
UBC would add two more, both on the power play, courtesy of Buonassisi and Bardaro, with the latter goal being assisted by Wudrick who collected his third point of the night. Tensions would boil over as the teams combined for 58 penalty minutes on the night.
 
UBC finished the night 2-for-5 on the power play and were perfect killing off all three penalties. Holfeld took the loss stopping 23 of 28 shots on Friday night. Holfeld has allowed five goals on just two occasions this year, with both of those against the Thunderbirds, including tonight's affair.
 
Despite the lopsided record in past years and a 1-3 record versus the Huskies during the regular season, the UBC Thunderbirds erased those concerns and will have a chance to close out the series tomorrow at 12 noon (PST) at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon. Game 3 goes Sunday, February 21 at 5 p.m. (PST), if necessary.
 
The winner of the series will advance to the Canada West semifinal, with either Saskatchewan facing the Calgary Dinos or UBC facing off against the top-seeded Alberta Golden Bears.