Lethbridge – Down two goals just past the mid-way point of the game, the Lethbridge Pronghorns rallied from behind to upend the UBC Thunderbirds 4-3 in a shootout. With the win the ‘Horns earn their first points of the season and improve to 1-1-0. The Thunderbirds have earned points in all three of their conference games thus far and move to 1-0-2 on the season.
Horns Captain Dustin Moore led the comeback with a pair of goals, including the tying goal late in the second period and the go ahead goal with just over six minutes remaining. Former Medicine Hat Tiger Taylor Gal had the other ‘Horns marker and finished with a three point night.
Mark Desloges, Cole Wilgosh and Justin McCrae responded for the Thunderbirds.
Desloges scored the lone goal in the opening frame, intercepting a ‘Horns pass in the neutral zone, breaking in on his forehand side, and beating ‘Horns goaltender Scott Bowles short side only two minutes into the contest. The ‘Horns held a slim 11-9 shot advantage through the first period.
While on their third power play of the second period, the Thunderbirds would manage to double their lead after a long stretch of play where both teams struggled to get anything going offensively. Wilgosh deflected Ben Schmidt’s point shot past a screened Bowles.
The T-Birds second goal seemed to awaken the ‘Horns, controlling the remainder of the period. Gal got the ‘Horns on the board outwaiting the UBC net-minder and lifting it up and over the sprawled White.
On a power play of their own late in the second frame, Moore tied the score collecting a juicy rebound, squeezing it between White’s arm and body.
With only 20 minutes remaining, the ‘Horns rode the momentum from the second period into the third, peppering White early but could not solve him. Off another rebound, Moore gave the ‘Horns their first lead of the game, but they would not hold the lead for long.
Immediately off the centre ice face off, the T-Birds attacked the ‘Horns looking for the equalizer. After a impressive post-to-post save from Bowles, McCrae picked up his own rebound to force overtime.
After five minutes of 4-on-4 and 3-on-3 solved nothing and both goaltenders turned away the first four shooters in the shootout, while sophomore Dan Iwanski would score in the fifth round. Iwanski outwaited White, flipping the puck back and over White’s pad. Max Grassi had one last chance to force the shootout into sudden death, but Bowles flashed the glove to seal the victory.
White was the busier of the two goaltenders, finishing with 38 saves, while Bowles finished the night with 29 stops.
The ‘Horns and T-Birds will conclude the weekend series tomorrow night Nicholas Sheran Arena, puck drops at 7:00pm. The Game can also be viewed at
www.canadawest.tv
-30-
