SASKATOON – The UBC Thunderbirds were seven seconds away from double overtime when
Hannah Clayton-Carroll buried the puck past a sprawling Jessica Vance to give the 'Birds a 2-1 double overtime victory over the host Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday night at Merlis Belsher Place.
Vance recorded 29 saves on 31 shots in the losing effort for the Huskies (4-2-3-1). At the other end,
Tory Micklash kicked aside 28 of 29 shots she faced to lead the Thunderbirds (4-2-2-2) to their second double overtime win of the season.
UBC's win snaps the team's three game losing skid and inches the T-Birds closer to Saskatchewan in the standings, as they now trail the Huskies by just a single point.
"It's good to learn what it takes to win those type of games," said UBC head coach
Graham Thomas. "It was a good, physical hard-fought win but the biggest thing is the mental side of getting back into the win column and helping to grow and build on what we're doing."
The Huskies took advantage of their first power play of the night and got the all-important first goal of the game, as Kayla Kirwan's slapshot from the point found twine to give her side an early 1-0 lead.
However, moments later, UBC responded right back. After a scramble in front of Vance,
Hannah Koroll was able to find her way onto the loose puck and roof a wrister over top of the Saskatchewan netminder to tie the game at a goal apiece.
After the second period lacked many quality scoring opportunities, the play opened up immediately in the third. Both clubs were able to fend off a flurry of scoring opportunities inside the final minute as Micklash denied Abby Shirley and followed it up with another well-executed poke-check. While at the other end, Vance shut the door on multiple Thunderbirds to keep the game tied.
For the second consecutive night, regulation solved nothing, so the clubs went to overtime.
With only 7.8 seconds remaining in OT, the Thunderbirds ended the game. Clayton-Carroll poked home the puck from her knees following a mad scramble in the Huskies crease, which resulted in jubilation from the road team, as they split the series with their conference foe with a 2-1 victory.
"We're doing some really good things and we're happy with what we're seeing," added Thomas who is impressed with his team's improvement over the course of the season so far. "A lot of team-first things are happening and we're playing better and better."
The UBC victory marks the end to a seven-game losing streak against the Huskies, dating back to the 2016-17 playoffs. The 'Birds are back home next Friday and Saturday when they host the visiting Manitoba Bisons at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
