VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds got goals from a pair of rookie forwards and another terrific performance in goal en route to a 2-1 win over the visiting Queen's Gaels Saturday afternoon to split the weekend doubleheader non-conference series at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
The 'Birds dominated play in the second half of the game, outshooting Queen's 14-4 in the final period while putting together a much more complete effort compared to the night before.
"We were just better with the puck, making smarter decisions," said UBC head coach
Sven Butenschon who was pleased with his group's response from Friday night.
"We put it in spots where we knew we could get it. We turned our mentality around a little bit and put the odds in our favour by putting pucks behind them, putting them below the goal line, behind the net where the speed of our forwards could beat the speed of their defence."
Down a goal after 20 minutes, the T-Birds used their first power play of the game to tie it at one early in the second when Austin Glover picked up a
Nick Buonassisi rebound for his first goal as a Thunderbird.
Fellow new recruit Matt Revel scored the eventual game winner seven minutes into the third with an absolute laser of a shot from the slot.
Rylan Toth picked up his second pre-season win in goal for the T-Birds making 29 saves and was full value between the pipes.
Just like Friday night, the Gaels struck first, and once again it was Darcy Greenaway, this time on the power play. The fourth-year forward appeared to intend to play the puck for a deflection at the front of the crease but instead it found its way straight into the net on a bit of a strange scoring play.
The T-Birds pressed late in the opening frame and had a couple decent scoring chances but the Gaels clogged up lanes and blocked shots, much like the night before.
UBC's first crack on the power play came three minutes into the second after Duncan Campbell was called for charging in the T-Birds' zone. On the man advantage, Glover pounced on a rebound in the slot for his first of the pre-season at 5:04.
Glover nearly scored his second of the period a few minutes later when he spun with the puck high in the zone and fired it towards the net, beating Queen's goaltender Kevin Bailie but not the post.
Things opened up for the 'Birds in the third period, which led to their first lead of the weekend when Revel let loose from about 20 feet out.
Joe Carvalho picked up the only assist.
The Gaels put Bailie on the bench for the extra attacker with just over a minute remaining. Queen's poured on the pressure but the 'Birds held on.
"For me that was a typical Canada West game," said Butenschon. "It was tight, tied after two, that could've been Saskatchewan or Calgary we were playing tonight so it was good for our guys to get comfortable in that kind of a game."
UBC finished the game 1-for-3 on the power play while limiting the Gaels to one power play goal on five opportunities.
The 'Birds now prepare for their final pre-season game next Saturday, September 30, against the Trinity Western Spartans in the deciding game of the inaugural Captain's Cup. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m. at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
