REGINA, Sask. – The University of Lethbridge’s men’s hockey team regained a five-point lead over the University of Regina in the Canada West men’s hockey standings after a 5-2 win over the Cougars on Satutrday night at The Co-operators Centre.

Boxscore

Fifth-year forward Dustin Moore notched his 16th of the season for the Pronghorns, while Clayton Cumiskey, Ryan Pottruff, Cass Mappin, and Curtis Cooper also scored for Lethbridge (7-16-3).

Cumiskey opened the scoring for Lethbridge 14 minutes into the first on a point-blank shot that beat Regina goalie Lucas Gore. The Pronghorns added to their lead just under two minutes later on the power play when Moore tipped in Taylor Gal’s point shot, capping a first period that saw Lethbridge hold a 13-6 shot advantage over the Cougars.

The Cougars found some life just over three minutes into the second on a great individual effort by Tyler Penny, who streaked down the right side and sniped top shelf on Lethbridge goalie Scott Bowles.

Momentum swung back into favour of the Pronghorns when Penny and Terrance DeLaronde took penalties that gave the visitors a 5-on-3 advantage, as Pottruff wired a shot from the point that found its way through heavy traffic to re-establish Lethbridge’s two goal lead.

But the Cougars had an answer, as DeLaronde tipped Blaine Tendler’s point shot past Bowles with 30 seconds left in the period to make the score 3-2 Lethbridge heading into the third.

Neither team was able to generate any offence in the final frame until a bad bounce for the Cougars put them down two with five minutes left. A harmless-looking shot by Winston Day Chief was blocked in front of Gore and the rolling puck landed right on Mappin’s stick, who hit the yawning cage to put Lethbridge up 4-2. Cooper added an empty netter with just over a minute to play to put the game out of reach.

Bowles ended up with 20 saves in the win for Lethbridge, while Gore was peppered with 39 shots and stopped 35.

The Cougars are back in action next weekend at The Co-operators Centre against the No. 5-ranked Alberta Golden Bears, while the Pronghorns are idle next weekend before finishing the season in Edmonton against Alberta.

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