VANCOUVER – Special teams were the ultimate difference Thursday as the UBC Thunderbirds
(5-4-1-1) returned to the win column after a 3-0 shutout victory over the Trinity Western Spartans (1-9-1-0). The blue and gold secured a power play goal in each period, and went a perfect eight-for-eight on the penalty kill. Josh Williams (2),
Cyle McNabb (7) and
Scott Atkinson (4) supplied the offense for UBC while first-year netminder Cole Schwebius turned aside all 25 shots he faced to earn his first career Canada West shutout. Spartans goaltender Berk Berkliev stopped 46 of the 49 UBC shots fired his way in defeat.
"Both power play units have been clicking for us all year, and our penalty kill tonight was outstanding," said head coach
Sven Butenschon. "We blocked shots, got in lanes, and made the necessary sacrifices that it takes to win. As a coach it's great to see your special teams succeed."
The two teams combined for 27 shots in a fast-paced first period – 16 coming from UBC, and nine from the visitors. In the home crease, Cole Schwebius was a perfect nine-for-nine while Berk Berkliev stopped 15 of 16 in the Trinity goal. The lone puck to get by Berkliev in the first period came at 8:42 on the first UBC power play of the game.
Sam Huo's initial shot from the top of the left-wing circle was blocked in front of the Trinity goal, but Josh Williams won a foot race to a loose puck in the slot, and wired a perfect shot past the glove of Berkliev for his second goal of the Canada West campaign.
Moments later, Williams nearly extended UBC's lead to 2-0, but Berkliev dove to his left and used his left arm to deflect Williams' shot to the corner. The best chances for Trinity Western came in transition. Jarrett Penner and Jeremy Klessens both used their speed to their advantage to generate point-blank chances, but Schwebius had an answer each time.
4:08 into the second period, the UBC power play once again found paydirt. This time it came off a faceoff victory and a perfectly placed shot from
Cyle McNabb from the right-wing boards. McNabb's team-leading seventh goal of the season came just seconds removed from a spectacular arm save made from Berk Berkliev off a power play scramble in front of the Trinity Western goal.
Shots in the middle frame were 13-9 for UBC who did a far better job of keeping Trinity Western's speed neutralized. Jarrett Penner and Kolby Johnson had decent looks in the back-half of the second period for the Spartans, but came up empty.
"We took a step forward tonight defensively, but we're still not where we need to be," claimed Butenschon. "We're still allowing too many odd-man rushes, and high danger chances, and if we want to take the next step we have to improve in those areas."
The third period was chalked full of penalties, as each team took four minor penalties, and even if the UBC penalty kill bent, it didn't break.
Matthew Smith, Johnny Lambos, Logan Doust and
Cyle McNabb all came through with timely shot blocks, and when called upon Cole Schwebius always found an answer in the UBC goal.
All hopes of a Trinity Western comeback ended at 18:52 when
Scott Atkinson wired home a
Jonathan Smart rebound off a shot from the left point that went wide of the net, but bounced perfect to Atkinson in close. Sasha Mutala added his team-leading 13
th assist on that play.
The final horn sounded and the 'Birds poured onto the ice to mob Schwebius, who improved his record to 2-1-1.
"It was great to see," added Butenschon when asked about the performance of Schwebius. "All three of our goalies have been working hard, putting in in extra time and they have all made strides since the start of the season. But tonight it was great to see Cole rewarded."
The 'Birds won't have long to celebrate their Thursday success though as they'll be right back at it tomorrow night on the road in a rematch with the Spartans.
"It's hard playing back-to-back nights," concluded the head coach. "You're facing a team that's going to make adjustments, a team that's pissed off and playing for pride. It's going to be a tough game, and they're going to make us earn every inch of ice tomorrow in the rematch."
