‘Birds prolong streak to 11 with sturdy end towards Regina
VANCOUVER – Scoring the ultimate three objectives of a penalty-filled affair, the UBC Thunderbirds prolonged their program-record win streak to 11 video games with a 6-3 victory over the visiting Regina Cougars Friday evening on the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports activities Centre.
Six totally different skaters scored for the ‘Birds (19-6-2) together with Sam Huo and Sasha Mutala who each completed with a aim and an help to increase their respective level streaks to 5 video games whereas Kaeden Lane made 32 saves for his eighth straight win in internet and tenth of the season.
“I used to be very pleased with the third interval, very impressed with our means to remain in video games when there are such a lot of particular groups,” stated UBC head coach Sven Butenschon after a mixed 13 energy performs. “When you’re not on the facility play, you sit there for seven or eight minutes and when you’re not on the penalty kill, you sit there for seven or eight minutes. That is actually laborious. And it was forwards and backwards, no actual stream to the sport after which within the third interval we simply stated, ‘let’s simply play, and keep out of the penalty field’, and 5 on 5 we are the higher group.”
The Cougars (8-16-3), in determined want of factors of their try and safe the sixth and remaining Canada West playoff berth, began the best way they meant with a Scott Mickoski energy play aim simply 4:15 into the primary interval, deflecting a Brennan Riddle level shot for his sixth of the season.
Regina’s lead lasted lower than 4 minutes with Jake Kryski sniping his third of the season off a reasonably feed from Logan Doust within the nook.
The ‘Birds took their first lead of the sport early within the second when Cyle McNabb lower to the slot and rifled a completely bullet previous Adam Evanoff for his team-leading 14th of the season.
Simply 37 seconds later, Mutala scored his tenth from Huo and Ben Keon who additionally completed with a two-point evening, his first multi-assist sport as a T-Fowl.
However earlier than the interval was even midway by the Cougars had tied it up with two extra energy play objectives from Tyler Heidt and Jackson Doucet lower than two minutes aside.
Scott Atkinson restored UBC’s lead on the 10:41 mark with the ‘Birds lone energy play mark of the evening, his tenth of the season from Mutala and Jake Lee.
Huo’s 12th gave UBC a two-goal benefit as soon as once more, 2:35 into the third however the true dagger got here ten minutes later. T-Birds captain Chris Douglas gained an offensive zone faceoff again to McNabb who’s level shot deflected off Jordan Sandhu, off the cross bar and over the aim line. Sandhu’s fourth of the season made a deep gap insurmountable for the Cougars who didn’t make the most of Manitoba and MacEwan losses Friday because the three head into the ultimate day of the common season nonetheless making an attempt to lock up the ultimate convention playoff berth.
“I believe they are a strong group, they play very nicely, structured bodily, they defend nicely, they bought nice defencemen,” stated Butenschon of the Cougars, figuring out Saturday might be a giant take a look at towards a determined group. “We have been on the opposite aspect of it, there’s loads to play for, loads of stress. It is a lot enjoyable, you simply hope you’ll be able to come out on the appropriate aspect of issues.”
Whereas Friday evening wasn’t fairly by any means, the ‘Birds did have a strong remaining 20 minutes, outshooting the Cougars by a 13-5 margin and limiting any actual probability for the guests to claw their method again.
“We had too many turnovers on the blue line. It is such a excessive danger, low reward space, I’d have fairly seen us play somewhat cleaner on the blue line, and less complicated, as a result of as soon as our forwards get to go looking in on forechecks, I do not know there is a group in our league that is higher than that than we’re.”
The T-Birds’ win strikes them again forward of Mount Royal for third within the convention heading into Saturday’s common season finale the place Sandhu might be honoured as UBC’s solely graduating senior previous to puck drop. The sport is about for a 3:00 p.m. PT begin with tickets accessible on-line now. The sport may even be streamed stay on Canada West TV.
