Box Score
CALGARY – For the third time in as many games between the two teams, the Lethbridge Pronghorns and Calgary Dinos played to a 1-0 game but unfortunately tonight, the Dinos came out on top in the front half of a home-and-home series.
In their season opening series back in October, the Pronghorns opened the season with a home 1-0 win before suffering a loss by the exact same score the next night in Calgary.
The one goal loss is the Pronghorns eighth one goal loss of the season and drops their record to 5-8-1-1. The Pronghorns now trail the Dinos by two points for the final playoff spot.
The victory was fueled by milestones, as Katie Duncan scored her first career goal as a Dino, while Kelsey Roberts recorded her league leading fifth shutout of the season.
Duncan sure made her first goal memorable, scoring on a highlight-reel play. After an initial Dinos shot was blocked by Pronghorns defenders, a crafty pass by Kate Lumley put the puck on Duncan's stick. She would juke a Pronghorns defender with a slick backhand to forehand play, before firing a perfect wrist shot at the top right corner of the net.
The tally would stand as the game's only goal, as the Dinos secured their fifth victory of the season. With the win, The Dinos surpassed Lethbridge in the standings for the sixth and final playoff spot in Canada West.
The opening period of this game saw Kelsey Roberts display the form that had previously led her to four shutouts and a goals against average of 1.58. Facing 13 shots, Roberts turned them all aside, while anchoring her team in killing off two penalties. Her best save of the period came late, as Jodi Gentile of the Pronghorns fired a point shot which was deflected at the last minute by Brett Campbell.
The second period did not see a shot until roughly five minutes into the frame, coming on a Dinos power-play. Less than a minute after the period's first shot, the Dinos scored the game's first goal thanks to the phenomenal play by Katie Duncan. Kelsey Roberts continued to be stellar for the remainder of the period, recording two phenomenal saves late in the second frame to maintain the Dinos lead heading into the second intermission. The Dinos also outshot the Pronghorns 10-7 in the second frame.
The third period saw back-and-forth action, with both teams pressuring one another in their respective offensive zones. With 90 seconds remaining, the Pronghorns would pull their goalie and mount relentless pressure on the Dinos, in search of the tying goal. However, led by Kelsey Roberts and a focused defense, they would not allow the Pronghorns to find the equalizer.
The teams will travel south for tomorrow's rematch in Lethbridge, marking both team's final game before the Christmas break. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
