REGINA, Sask. – The UBC Thunderbirds (10-9-1) broke open the flood gates scoring the final four goals Saturday night in a 6-1 win over the Regina Cougars (3-15-2) at the Co-operators Centre, completing the season series sweep.
Nick Buonassisi,
Carter Popoff and
Josh Connolly all had three-point nights for UBC, as the Thunderbirds have now made it three wins in the first four games of 2018.
Michael Stenerson,
Adam Rossignol,
Chase Clayton and
Matt Revel also scored goals for the visitors while Stephen Langford notched the only Regina marker.
"We came out and executed the game plan and got a goal early," said UBC head coach
Sven Butenschon who was very pleased with his team's performance and balanced attack that saw six different goal scorers and nine skaters pick up at least a point. "The young guys have played well for us this year but if you want to go anywhere you need a balanced attack and you need your veteran guys to step up. Buonassisi, Popoff and those guys getting on the scoresheet is huge for us."
UBC wasted no time opening scoring on Saturday night as Stenerson worked the give-and-go perfectly with
Austin Vetterl and lit the lamp just 21 seconds in. Revel picked up an assist on the goal, as Stenerson's ninth gave the visitors an early lead.
Buonassisi added to the lead early in the second following a Jordan Burns penalty for kneeing. The fifth-year forward scored his third of the season on a nice individual effort, flying down the left wing and swooping in front to put a backhand through the legs of Michael Herringer on a one-man rush.
Langford got Regina on the board just 42 seconds later, jamming in a rebound after a Tyson Predinchuk wrist shot rang off both posts and sat free in the crease. Langford's first of the year got the Cougars within a goal, but Popoff restored the two-goal lead two minutes later. UBC went on a rush very similar to their first goal, with Buonassisi feeding a pass across and leaving Herringer no chance to make the save.
The T-Birds continued the onslaught with another powerplay goal a few minutes later, as Rossignol deflected a Popoff shot from the slot to beat Herringer for his second goal in as many nights.
Dawson MacAuley relieved Herringer for the final 20 minutes of Saturday's contest, making a few big saves before Clayton was able to put one home on an impressive rush down the right side of the ice.
Revel added one more in the dying minutes, deflecting a high point shot from Connolly into the bottom corner of the net.
Matt Hewitt was impressive for the second-straight night, often limiting the Cougars to a single chance and doing a good job of recovering when he did allow a rebound. The former Regina Pat finished the night with 32 saves for his second win of the weekend. Herringer and MacAuley combined to make 27 saves for the Cougars.
"(Hewitt) looks like a fifth-year guy that's been around and knows exactly what it takes," said Butenschon about his veteran goaltender. "He's comfortable, he's reading the play really well. It's just really fun to play in front of him."
Connolly finished with a three-point night for the 'Birds, a new Canada West career high while Popoff and Buonassisi each finished with a goal and two assists. UBC's bench boss was also impressed with rookie forward
Austin Glover who made his return to the lineup this weekend and assisted on Clayton's third period tally.
"He was a huge addition this weekend, he was a force," said Butenschon. "He's a big, powerful player and he played with some jam and he was hard to handle for Regina's defence."
The T-Birds return home for four straight games in Vancouver starting with a critical matchup with the Lethbridge Pronghorns Friday, January 19 in UBC's fourth annual Winter Classic at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. Not only will the 'Birds be playing front of what's expected to be a sell-out crowd, but it's a battle for playoff positioning with the Pronghorns three points back of UBC for fourth place, a spot shared with the Mount Royal Cougars, each with 21 points.
