VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds head into the December break on a four-game win streak and in sole possession of first place in the Canada West after a 2-0 win over the Trinity Western Spartans Saturday night in Langley.
It was a true goaltenders duel at the Langley Events Centre as UBC's Rylan Toth made 25 saves for his second consecutive shutout and third goose egg of the season while Trinity Western's Talor Joseph kept his team in the game with 41 stops in total while playing a big role in keeping the 'Birds (10-1-1) off the board on nine power play chances.
"Our first period was excellent, we had some good scoring chances and probably could have been up a bunch but their goaltender kept them in the game, made some great saves," said UBC Head Coach Sven Butenschon who also lauded his own netminder's stellar play of late. "Late in the game they pull their goalie, they get some power plays, they're teeing up shots from everywhere and he was in position on everything. He's making it look easy back there and makes the whole group play in front of him feel really confident."
Cyle McNabb opened scoring on what turned out to be the game winner at the 6:21 mark while Chris Douglas doubled the T-Birds lead six minutes later with his team-leading seventh of the season.
It was a parade to the box in the second and third with the two teams combining for 17 power plays. While the T-Birds weren't able to capitalize on their man advantages, their penalty kill was spectacular going 8-for-8 including a lengthy 5-on-3 situation late in the second period.
The Spartans (1-11) had two late power plays in the third, one of which was a full two minute 6-on-4 with Joseph on the bench for the extra attacker. Toth made 11 of his 25 saves in the final period as the veteran goaltender improved to 9-1-1 on the season, bumping up his league leading save percentage to .941.
The T-Birds don't return to Canada West action until January 14th when their conference leading record will be tested by the Mount Royal Cougars in Calgary.
"It doesn't matter if you come out after Christmas and you don't continue this," said Butenschon about what his team has achieved thus far. "We play in Mount Royal in our first games back in January. They're a great hockey club and if you don't go in there and play your best you'll have two losses right off the bat so that's going to be in the back of our minds as we prepare and try to stay sharp over the holidays."
