VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds scored three unanswered goals, all in the second period, in a 4-1 win over the visiting Saskatchewan Huskies Friday night at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
Tied 1-1 through 20 minutes, the fourth-ranked T-Birds (7-1-1) got goals from Matt Revel and Cyle McNabb less than three minutes apart while Scott Atkinson added UBC's fifth shorthanded tally of the season at the 12:43 mark as the 'Birds snapped a nine-game losing skid against the No. 2 Huskies (7-2) who have now dropped two straight.
"It was another big challenge, back to back weekends with Alberta and Saskatchewan, so you know you got to bring your 'A' game," said UBC Head Coach Sven Butenschon after the two team's first meeting since the 2020 Canada West Final. "I think the guys did a good job from the opening faceoff right to the end. Everybody bought in, pulling the rope together and played a really smart hockey game."
T-Birds Captain Tyler Sandhu opened scoring in the first period with his fourth of the season. Jake Kryski picked off a Huskies clearing attempt and fed it back to Sandhu who was in behind the Saskatchewan defence. The veteran forward outwaited Huskies netminder Roddy Ross and backhanded the puck in the cage at the seven minute mark.
The Huskies responded with what turned out to be their lone goal of the evening on the power play with five-and-a-half remaining in the period. After Rylan Toth made an initial save off a Jared Dmytriw shot, Donovan Neuls was able to get his stick on the puck sitting just under the veteran goaltender's pad for his second of the season.
Just 3:38 into the second period, a perfectly executed play off an offensive zone faceoff gave the T-Birds the lead back for good. Sandhu won the draw and with some help from Kryski, the puck got onto Matt Leduc's stick at the blue line. The rookie defenceman sent it towards the net where it was deflected by Revel for his second of the season.
Less than three minutes later, McNabb picked up a loose puck on a goalmouth scramble and potted his second of the year, doubling UBC's advantage.
Atkinson's third of the campaign came at the 12:43 mark, the first shorthanded goal allowed by the Huskies this season. Chris Douglas hunted down Gordie Ballhorn behind his own net, lifting the defenceman's stick and stealing the puck which he fed to Atkinson in the slot who quickly buried it past Ross, blocker side.
Despite finishing the game 0-for-8 on the power play, the T-Birds still found more than enough offence Friday night while outshooting the Huskies by a 29-25 margin, limiting Saskatchewan to just five shots in the third.
"I thought they were better form start to finish," said Saskatchewan Head Coach Mike Babcock. "They worked harder, they competed harder, they were quicker. I thought the first ten minutes they really took it to us, then I thought we got the game going our way to tell you the truth. Then the second period they got three, we turned the puck over for two goals but both of those were work ethic based. The game tonight was very fair, they were harder, they were more organized, they were faster, they took less penalties."
Toth's 24 saves, including a penalty shot stop on Zane Franklin in the opening minutes of the first, earned him his sixth win of the season while the T-Birds now sit tied with the Calgary Dinos for first place in the Canada West with two games in hand.
The 'Birds and Huskies meet for the final time this regular season Saturday afternoon with another big two points up for grabs in the race to the post-season.
"It's so hard in this league, the competition is so good," said Butenschon. "To win back-to-back games is so tough. They're going to come out hard and physical, so we better be ready."
Puck drop at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre is set for 3:00 p.m. PT. Tickets are available but must be reserved in advance. The game will also be streamed live on Canada West TV.
