CALGARY - After a double overtime win to open 2018, the UBC Thunderbirds (8-9-1) settled for the weekend split with a 4-2 loss to the Calgary Dinos (5-10-3) Saturday afternoon at Father David Bauer Arena.
Second-year goaltender Matthew Greenfield returned to the Dinos crease after rookie Jordan Papirny got the start in Friday night's game. In another back-and-forth matchup that saw the teams trade the first four goals, the Dinos pulled away in the last fifteen minutes to secure three of a possible four points on the weekend.
Heading into the third and final frame, the Dinos led the Thunderbirds 2-1. However, the T-Birds would begin the third period with a jump in their step, as they tied the game just 48 seconds into the final frame. A shot from the left face-off circle by Carter Popoff would hit a skate and trickle in, as heavy traffic screened Matt Greenfield.
Momentum seemingly swung UBC's way as the T-Birds were awarded a penalty shot. However, Greenfield was sharp, staying with rookie Matt Revel to deny the T-Birds the lead. The Dinos also received a minor penalty on the same play which they would kill off as UBC failed to score on the power play for the second straight game, going 0-for-5.
While on the kill, the Dinos scored the go-ahead goal with Cain Franson notching his eighth of the season, Calgary's conference leading sixth shorthanded tally.
Halfway through the third the Dinos went ahead by two courtesy of their newest recruits, Tyler Coulter and Ryan Graham. Teammates in Jacksonville of the ECHL, Graham would find a streaking Coulter.
"I thought we came out really strong, the guys put together an incredible first period, we killed a 5-on-3, a 5-on-4, we out hit them and the shots were even," said UBC head coach Sven Butenschon who was pleased with his team's effort the entire weekend. "They took it to us a little bit in the second period and then the turning point was us missing on a penalty shot and then they scored a shorthanded goal to go up 3-2."
The Dinos struggled to start the game, unable to muster a shot on goal at the UBC net until the five minute mark of the first, despite plenty of activity in the offensive zone. However, they picked up the pace and dominated action for the remainder of the period. The Dinos had three powerplays, including a five-on-three, but were unable to find the back of the net despite heavy pressure on UBC goaltender Matt Hewitt.
The Dinos opened the second period with the same intensity in which they finished the first frame. Buzzing around the UBC zone, it only seemed to be a matter of time before Calgary broke the scoreless tie. At the 3:40 mark of the second frame, Dinos captain Dan Gibb unleashed an absolute rocket from the point to give the Dinos a 1-0 lead.
UBC would respond shorty after. Following a save by Matt Hewitt, the Thunderbirds would break out for a 2-on-1 rush led by fourth-year forward Michael Stenerson. He would keep the puck and fire it past Greenfield to tie the game.
But less than 30 seconds later while on the man advantage, Calgary's Dylan Busenius would unleash a clapper from the point after a cross-ice pass from Chris Collins to re-take the lead.
Matt Hewitt stopped 24 shots as the Dinos outshot the 'Birds 28-27.
"We were struggling going into Christmas and lost a bunch of games and didn't like our game at all," said Butenschon who feels hard work over the break has started to pay off. "I saw a lot of good things I haven't seen in awhile like blocking shots and being the more physically dominant team and sticking to the game plan. When you do all those things you give yourself a chance in the end and that's what we did and we have to build off it."
The T-Birds spend a second straight weekend on the road next Friday and Saturday when they visit the last place Regina Cougars at the Co-operators Centre before returning home for the fourth annual Winter Classic against the Lethbridge Pronghorns January 19 at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
