VANCOUVER – Back stopped by a solid goaltender performance, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's hockey team put an end to a four game losing streak with a 3-0 win over the UBC Thunderbirds in Vancouver..

The Pronghorns (5-9-1) played simple and smart while clogging up their own zone and shutting down UBC's (9-6-0) offence as goaltender Garret Hughson made 30 saves for his first Canada West shutout.

It wasn't that the T-Birds didn't have their chances throughout the game. UBC managed several odd man rushes and quality scoring opportunities but if Hughson wasn't making a solid save, pucks were sent wide of the goal or the 'Horns managed to break up plays in what was a solid team defensive performance.

"We know how valuable he is, this is his third year and to finally have (a shutout) is nice for him, it was a good win for him," said Lethbridge head coach Murray Nystrom.

The 'Birds outshot the Pronghorns 11-7 in the first period but the two teams entered the second frame deadlocked at zeros.

It was 37 minutes until Lethbridge finally opened scoring on a quick passing play right off a faceoff the T-Birds' zone. After UBC won the draw, the puck bounced off a leg and was picked up by Justin Valentino who quickly centred to Ryan Chynoweth who slipped it past Rylan Toth for his fourth of the season.

The game remained a one-goal affair until the 13:44 mark of the third when the Pronghorns doubled their lead off a T-Bird turnover. Connor Sanvido grabbed the puck right at the side of the crease and tucked it into the open cage.

UBC put Toth on the bench for the extra attacker with three minutes remaining, but it didn't take long for the visitors to hit the empty net. Valentino launched the puck from well within his own zone and hit the open six-by-four dead centre for his third of the season, solidifying Lethbridge's first win in three weeks.

"We've been playing pretty well of late, maybe not getting the results we wanted but I thought tonight we really limited their opportunities," added Nystrom. "We want to make plays but sometimes the right play is just getting the puck out of the zone and I thought at the right times we were making those decisions."

Despite the loss, the 'Birds remain in fourth place in the conference heading into Saturday, but now just one point up on fifth place Mount Royal. The Pronghorns have moved six points ahead of both Manitoba and Regina.

The Pronghorns and T-Birds will wrap up the first semester of Canada West play tomorrow with an afternoon affair, puck drop at Father Bauer Arena is 1:00 p.m. PT, catch all the action on www.canadawest.tv.