VANCOUVER – If not for some terrific Calgary goaltending, the UBC Thunderbirds (10-4-1-2) would have sealed their victory far earlier, but instead needed a final minute empty netter from Shay-Lee McConnell to seal a 2-0 win over the visiting Calgary Dinos (6-9-0-2) Friday night at Father Bauer Arena.
 
The T-Birds fired 24 shots at second-year goaltender Kelsey Roberts but only managed to beat her once, while Tory Micklash made eight saves for her second shutout of the season and Canada West leading eighth win.
 

McConnell hits the empty net and seals the 2-0 win for @UBCWHKY over the @UCDinos to clinch the season series and improve to 10-4-1-2 on the season. Tory Micklash with her 2nd shutout and 8th win on the year

— Jeff Sargeant (@jeffthesarge) January 6, 2018

Calgary had a terrific chance to open scoring early on when Logan Boyd was assessed a double-minor just 33 seconds into the opening frame. But the 'Birds' penalty kill didn't allow a single shot, finishing the game a perfect 5-for-5.
 
UBC outshot the Dinos 9-2 through 20 minutes but the game remained scoreless until three minutes into the second. After Calgary iced the puck, Kenzie Robinson won the ensuing faceoff feeding it right back to Jaedon Cooke who outwaited Roberts and fired the puck perfectly over her left shoulder to open scoring with her third of the season.
 
Despite four power plays through the final 40 minutes and some serious offensive zone time, the 'Birds couldn't solve Roberts again. With 1:20 left in the final frame, Roberts headed to Calgary's bench for the extra attacker. But after winning a battle along the boards in the Dinos' zone, McConnell fired the puck into the empty cage for her second of the season erasing any hope for a comeback.
 


The T-Birds finished the game 0-for-4 on the power play as both teams' penalty kills rose to the challenge.
 
Robinson had a pair of assists setting up both UBC goals while Tiffany Chiu also recorded a helper on McConnell's empty netter.
 
The win improves UBC's home-ice record to 4-3-1-1 while the 'Birds remain three points back of the conference leading Bisons after Manitoba beat the Pandas in Edmonton Friday night.
 
The T-Birds can complete the season series sweep over the Dinos with a win in Saturday's rematch. Puck drop at Father Bauer is set for 1:00 p.m. PT.