The second matchup of the weekend between two of the top three teams in Canada West had no shortage of entertainment at Merlis Belsher Place. Going into the game, Calgary was looking to overthrow Saskatchewan and jump into second place, while the Huskies were looking for a series split and snapping a two-game losing streak after starting the season a perfect 9-and-0. The end result saw Calgary pulling away with a 5-3 victory and the weekend series.
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Looking to rebound from last night’s defeat, the Huskies were caught on their heels from the opening faceoff. Just under four minutes into the game, Arjun Atwal picked up the rebound from a shot from Connor Gutenberg and tucked one in on the wrap around giving the Dinos an early 1-0 lead. Not long after Connor Gutenberg would be in the middle of it again, this time setting up Adam Kydd who fired home a one-timer past the glove of goaltender Jordan Kooy extending the lead to 2-0.
Calgary continued to apply pressure and would find the back of the net for a third time, with Jaegar White connecting with Riley Stotts making it a 3-0 Dino lead just after the halfway mark. Saskatchewan would have an opportunity to get back into the game with a late first period power play, but Gunner Kinniburgh would catch Riley Stotts with a high-stick, drawing the gate for a double-minor. Goaltender Jordan Kooy stood tall at the end of the period stopping not one but two great scoring chances by the Dinos. A deflected shot rattled off his head followed by flashing the glove in the dying seconds.
It looked like a completely different Huskies team on the ice to start the second period, giving Calgary a taste of their own medicine quickly applying the pressure and getting more scoring chances than they had in the first. Just past seven minutes into the period Carter Stebbings found Cade Hayes in front who tapped home his second of the season to put the Huskies on the board. Later in the period saw 4-on-4 action until Riley Stotts got called for slashing sending the Huskies on a 4-on-3 power play, and Chantz Petruic would thread the needle to Justin Ball netting his fourth of season and bringing the Huskies within one.
Calgary began a push back late in the third period but Saskatchewan stood their ground playing a much better defensive game than the second period, but a scramble in front of Jordan Kooy caused a collapse in the crease allowing Dylan Anderson to fire home his first to restore the Dinos two goal lead making it 4-2. The Dogs wouldn’t go away, continuing to sniff for a third goal, but Cade Hayes would get called for a double-minor kneeing penalty giving the Dinos a power play to not only end the period on, but to start the third with.
Starting the third period on the penalty kill is never an easy task, and unfortunately it cost the Huskies just over a minute into the frame as Jake Poole got a stick on a point shot from Brendan De Jong making it a 5-2 game for the Dinos. The Huskies however didn’t go away easy, continuing to look for a spark but they didn’t register a shot on goal until almost seven minutes into the period. A late power play opportunity for the Dogs would result in a Carter Stebbings goal, at what first seemed to be a remarkable save by goaltender Carl Tetachuk bringing the Huskies back to within two goals, but it wouldn’t be enough.
The Dinos series sweep to leapfrog Saskatchewan in the standings, as the Huskies drop their third consecutive game that will look to be snapped against the top team in the league next weekend, the UBC Thunderbirds.
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GAME STATS (TEAM)
Shots on Goal: Calgary 34-32 Saskatchewan
1st – 12-10 CGY
2nd – 11-10 SSK
3rd – 13-10 SSK
Calgary 1/5 PP
Saskatchewan 2/3 PP
3rd Star – CGY #8 Connor Gutenberg (3 Assist)
2nd Star – SSK #12 Justin Ball (1 Goal)
1st Star – CGY #44 Riley Stotts (1 Goal)
GAME STATS (PLAYERS)
F #15 – Carter Stebbings (1 Goal, 1 Assist)
F #12 – Justin Ball (1 Goal)
F #26 – Cade Hayes (1 Goal)
F #11 – Chantz Petruic (1 Assist)
F #18 – Vince Loschiavo (1 Assist)
F #20 – Keaton Sorensen (1 Assist)
D #21 – Colby Jaquet (1 Assist)
G #30 – Jordan Kooy (27/32 Shots)
NEXT GAME: @ UBC Thunderbirds (11-1) on Friday, November 17th at 9:00 p.m.
