NISKU, Alta. – The Thunderbirds' (7-2) speed and skill was on full display against the Alberta Pandas (1-7-1) on Friday night, as they defeated their hosts 6-0 and outshot them 43-12.
Five different T-Birds found the back of the net, with Jacquelyn Fleming the lone player to notch a pair. Hannah Dods, Cassidy Rhodes and Tayah Wallace each also had two-point nights, with 11 different players finding their way onto the scoresheet in all.
The Thunderbirds jumped on the Pandas from the beginning with an aggressive forecheck that kept the home team pinned deep consistently. That pressure paid off when Dods found Hanna Perrier in the slot, who promptly rifled it home to open the scoring within the first 10 minutes.
UBC's younger talent then strutted their stuff later in the period, first with Payton Henwood setting up Wallace on a two-on-one which was finished via a slick deke around the goalie. Maggie Rauckman then ripped home a one-timer off another odd-man rush, giving the T-Birds a comfortable lead.
Fleming scored both her goals in the middle frame, the second one coming during one of UBC's seven power plays on the night. Ilona Markova also scored on a power play, and the T-Birds had all the scoring they needed before the second period was out.
After setting a new season-high in goals and earning their fourth shutout of the campaign, the Thunderbirds will aim for a weekend sweep when the two teams face off again tomorrow night, beginning at 6:00 p.m. (PT).
