Box Score CALGARY, AB- On Saturday evening at the Flames Community Arenas the Mount Royal Cougars (17-6-3) took down the Lethbridge Pronghorns (10-15-1) for the second time in as many nights, this time by a score of 3-1.
The Mount Royal win, capped by goals from Jordan McNaughton, Tanner Olstad and David Stephens, keeps them a point ahead of the University of Alberta for second place in the Canada West standings. Meanwhile Tim Campbell scored the lone marker in a Lethbridge loss that puts a damper on their playoff hopes.
The Mount Royal Cougars' dominated every facet of the opening 20 minutes, winning the puck possession battle and spending most of the period attacking in the Pronghorns' end.
The Cougars opened the scoring after a Pronghorns slashing penalty six minutes into the action. The Cougars worked the puck around the offensive zone until Jordan McNaughton found an open shot at the blue line. With Matthew Brown applying a screen in front, the blast found its way past Damien Ketlo for McNaughton's fifth of the season.
Tanner Olstad, who had his fair share of scoring chances in the first period, increased the Cougars lead to two with seven minutes remaining in the first. Olstad made a great solo effort, taking the puck into the slot, firing in his 11th of the year.
The Cougars nearly increased their lead to three minutes later. In on a two on one Cam Maclise sent a pass across to Connor Rankin with the goaltender out of position. Rankin, with an open net in front of him, waited a split second too long to let his shot go as Ketlo sprawled across the ice, making a highlight reel stick save.
The Cougars kept coming. Tiring out the Pronghorns by pinning them in their defensive end, Mount Royal worked the cycle until McNaughton made his way behind the net and made a pass in front to David Stephens. Stephen's defender had made his way behind the net to take on McNaughton, leaving Stephens alone to pot his fourth goal of the season.
The Cougars had a chance to add to their lead five minutes into the second when three Cougars came into the Lethbridge zone on a rare three on one. David Stephens sent a pass back to Bill Marshall but Ketlo fought off his shot. However the rebound sat helplessly in front of the net where the Cougars' trailer had another opportunity, ringing the puck off the post, just inches away from increasing Mount Royal's lead to four.
After a Mount Royal charging penalty the Pronghorns were finally able to beat Colin Cooper just after the midpoint of the second period. After Mount Royal killed off most of the Lethbridge power play, the puck came to Tim Campbell, the Pronghorns leading scorer among defensemen, at the blue line. Fighting through a heavy net front presence it appeared as if Cooper never saw the Campbell offering until the puck was behind him. Campbell's goal was his 12th of the year and cut the Cougars' lead to two.
The Cougars' relied heavily on their back stopper in the third frame as the Pronghorns heated up offensively. After a cross crease pass, Cooper came up huge with a highlight reel glove save just four minutes into the final period.
The Pronghorns pulled Ketlo with three minutes remaining in the contest but they were no match for Cooper who stood tall in the Mount Royal net all night.
Colin Cooper improves his record to 13-4-1 with the win while Damien Ketlo falls to 5-6-0 with the loss.
The Mount Royal Cougars will play a vital home and home against the University of Alberta Golden Bears next weekend while the Pronghorns will be back in Calgary for a matchup against the University of Calgary Dinos.
