Box Score Lethbridge – Finally putting an end to a 10-game losing streak, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns exploded offensively to win the back end of a two-game weekend series against the visiting University of Regina Cougars, 4-1, Saturday night at Nicholas Sheran Arena.
David McMullen, Mitch Maxwell, Cason Machacek, and Ryon Moser each netted individual markers for Lethbridge. Brody Luhning scored the lone goal for Regina.
Alex Sirard got the start for Lethbridge, his first in a Pronghorns uniform, and turned aside all but one of the 41 shots he faced. Lukas Gore started in net for the Cougars and faced 27 shots on the night.
Netting his first goal in as many shots, McMullen's one-timer from inside the blue line soared through traffic to open the scoring at 6:32, beating Gore while Troy Hunter was serving two for tripping.
With Lethbridge's Mason Conway in the box for hooking at 10:16, Luhning netted a power play goal of his own; his shot managed to sneak through Sirard's five- hole, from Mark Schneider and Brayden Nargang, knotting things up at one a piece.
Outshot 16-4 through one, the Pronghorns would need to up their offensive pressure if they wanted to stay in contention.
Dan Iwanski's solid effort in front of the net was blocked by a Regina defender but Maxwell quickly gobbled up the juicy rebound and rifled a quick wrister past the down-and-out goalie and into the back of the net, at 2:25, re-establishing the 'Horns lead.
Troy Hunter had a great chance, in-close but his shot was swiftly steered out of harm's way by Sirard.
Christian Magnus came flying into the offensive zone with speed toward the end of the second, looking to even the score, once again but, was stone-walled by the Lethbridge net-minder.
What looked like a great tic-tac-toe play by 'Horns captain Daniel Iwanski and line-mate Mitch Maxwell was quickly waved off by the officials after it was ruled that the puck was kicked in by Maxwell.
Tested, yet again, against the Cougars aggressive power play unit, Sirard withstood the pressure, including a hard blast by Ryan Dech.
Machacek added an insurance goal for the Horns at 8:22. After Brock Hirsche's attempt in close was denied, the third-year defenseman secured the puck and let it go, past Gore, netting his first CIS goal while widening his team's lead to two with just more than half a period remaining in regulation.
Moser added an empty net goal for the 'Horns in the final minute of play to salt away the 'Horns victory.
With this win the 'Horns break their game losing streak and improve to 2-15-1. Next weekend they are set to play a home-and-home series against the top ranked University of Calgary Dinos, beginning Friday night in Calgary. Meanwhile, now sitting at 9-9-0, Regina returns home where they will face off next weekend against the UBC Thunderbirds at The Co-Operators Centre.
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