Box Score EDMONTON – Facing the defending Canada West Champion and second-ranked Alberta Golden Bears, the Lethbridge Pronghorns held the high potent offense in check for majority of the game but could not come out on the right side of a 4-2 decision.
Rookie forward Noah Philp recorded two points, including scoring the game-winning goal late in the second period to lead the Golden Bears to the victory.
Philp also added an assist, while Grayson Pawlenchuk, Cole Sanford and Chad Butcher scored for the Bears. Brendan Burke stopped 16 of the 18 shots he faced, improving his personal record to 11-0-0 this season. As a team, it was the Bears third win in four games in 2020, as they stay atop the conference table with an 18-3-0 record.
The loss for Lethbridge is their fifth-straight, dropping them to 5-15-1. The story for the visitors was starting goalie Jack Burgart, who was sensational, making 43 saves on 47 shots. Many of those 43 were five-alarm saves, as he turned in arguably his best performance of the season.
The teams played a tight-checking opening period, with Pawlenchuk's goal in the final two minutes standing as the lone goal. His goal was the 15th for the sophomore Bear, the most in Canada West.
Despite being heavily outshoot, Lethbridge took the lead in the second period thanks to two goals in the first eight minutes. Evan Wardley tied the game at 1-1 just 42 seconds into the second, ripping in a juicy rebound kicked out by Burke.
Michael Clarke gave Lethbridge the lead after his quick shot from down low fooled Burke, sliding in five-hole.
Sanford tied the game late in the second, beating a sprawled out Burgart after his initial shot was blocked. Philp scored the eventual game winner before the second was up with just 1:04 left in the period.
Butcher added the insurance marker midway through the third, beating Burgart on a one-timer on the powerplay. Lethbridge, meanwhile, mustered just 11 shots over the final two periods, as they were unable to generate significant pressure on Burke after their two second-period goals.
Game 2 of the weekend series is set for 7:00 p.m. tomorrow night at Clare Drake Arena.
