The Rundown - Week 4
The first period saw all sorts of action in the Lethbridge zone as the Pandas were determined to score early and often on the Pronghorns. There was one problem with that thought, and she wears #1 for the Pronghorns as Anderson was spectacular in denying all opportunities for the Pandas int he opening frame. Oswald was far less busy, but the 0-0 score remained on the scoreboard after 20 minutes of play despite Alberta holding a 10-3 edge in shots.
The second period was more of the same as the Pandas continued their relentless attacks on the Pronghorns. As hard as it may be to believe, they actually turned up the heat compared to their first-period effort, but Anderson was putting on a goaltending clinic in the Pronghorns' zone as she denied chance after chance while her defenders cleared rebounds. That would prove important as Alli Borrow won a puck battle along the end-boards in the Pandas zone before throwing a centering pass out front that found Kyra Greig, and she wired it past the glove of Oswald to put Lethbridge up 1-0 at 9:59! Down a goal, the Pandas went back to work, but Anderson wouldn't allow anything through to the twine behind her as the horn sounded on 40 minutes of play with Lethbridge up 1-0, but being outshot 28-9 by the Pandas!
The third period saw a goal before the water on the rink surface had frozen. Alberta, trying to break out of their zone, saw Kennedy Ganser make a no-look pass to a breaking Panda as she came around the net, but the pass missed its intended target and Madison Porter scooped up the loose puck and fired a wrister to the far top corner past Oswald to put Lethbridge up 2-0 just 30 seconds into the period! Anderson would continue putting on a show through this period as she denied the Pandas time and time again, but the offensive onslaught would finally break through late in the period when Alex Gowie slid a cross-crease pass to Regan Wright who tapped it in at 15:40 to make it a 2-1 game. That would be as close as the Pandas would get on this night, though, as the Lethbridge Pronghorns went into Clare Drake Arena and came out with the 2-1 victory! Alicia Anderson was the story of this game as she earned her fifth win with a 41-save performance while Halle Oswald suffered her first loss after stopping 11 shots.
Highlights of this game are below!
SATURDAY: After throwing everything, including the proverbial kitchen sink, at the Pronghorns one night earlier and coming away with nothing to show for it, the Pandas would load up the offence again in trying to find the split on Saturday. For the Pronghorns, if it was done once, it could be done again, so could they pull off the improbably sweep in Edmonton? Alicia Anderson was back in the nets for the Pronghorns on Saturday while Kirsten Chamberlin was sent to the blue paint for the Pandas.
It was a far more defensive start to this game as it seemed like the teams needed a few minutes to get their legs under them after a track meet-like game on Friday. Midway through the period, though, we'd see our first goal as Kyra Greig made a nice move to get the puck past a defender before shoveling a cross-ice pass to an unchecked Tricia Van Vaerenbergh, and she buried it past a sprawling Chamberlin to put Lethbridge up 1-0 at the 10:46 mark. The Pandas wouldn't waste any time in letting that lead stand as they responded 4:05 later when Abby Benning pushed her own rebound under Anderson and into the net to tie the game at 1-1. The two teams would be content in not letting the other gain an advantage before the break, so we'd go to the intermission tied 1-1 with Alberta holding a 6-5 edge in shots.
The second period felt like it was taking place on Friday as both goalies put up walls in front of their cages. Alberta had a couple of great chances only to be robbed by Anderson while Lethbridge's few chances in the middle frame were denied by Chamberlin. Despite a 9-4 advantage in shots in this period by the Pandas, the score remained 1-1 through 40 minutes.
Early in the third period, the Alberta power-play would finally strike on the weekend. Alex Poznikoff's feed into the middle was redirected by Madison Willan past the screened Anderson at 3:08 as the Pandas grabbed their first lead of the weekend at 2-1! 4:08 later, the Pandas would strike again as Poznikoff centered a pass right on the tape of Kennedy Ganser's stick, and she beat Anderson to make it a 3-1 game for the Pandas. From there, the Pandas shut down opportunities for the Pronghorns and Chamberlin held the fort as the Pandas earned the split with the 3-1 victory! Kirsten Chamberlin picked up her second win of the season with an 11-save effort while Alicia Anderson was saddled with her second loss of the season despite stopping 26 shots on this day.
Highlights of the Pandas win are below!
Both teams came out seeking the first goal as there were chances at both ends of the rink. Calgary, however, began to exert their will offensively as they peppered Vance with shots, but nothing would get through in the early going. However, late in the period, Annaliese Meier would win a puck battle behind the Saskatchewan net before coming out on the left side with a wraparound that found space between the post and Vance's pad as Calgary jumped ahead 1-0 with 3:29 left in the period! That score would carry through to the intermission as Calgary held the lead and a 15-6 margin in shots!
The second period saw the Huskies double-down on their defensive efforts, keeping the Dinos to the outside and limiting shots. With that happening in the defensive zone, the Huskies upped their offensive attack thanks to a pair of power-plays midway through the period. While neither power-play was successful, there was an odd-player rush that did work in Saskatchewan's favour as the Huskies caught the Dinos on a line change and broke into the zone with a 3-on-1 where Isabella Pozzi found Emily Upgang with a pass, and Upgang went upstairs in a hurry past the blocker of Roberts to tie the game at 1-1 at 12:37! The Dinos would get themselves back in order following the goal, and they'd keep the Huskies from adding more as the tams went to the second break tied 1-1, but having Saskatchewan outshoot Calgary 10-3 in the middle frame.
The third period saw both teams pick up the offence as Vance denied a breakaway early in the period while Roberts was kicking aside pucks sent in on her by the Huskies. It would take the majority of the period, but we'd see another goal as Sophie Lalor's initial shot was stopped, but Abby Shirley jumped on the rebound and buried it past Roberts with 2:59 to play to put Saskatchewan up 2-1! The Dinos would pull Roberts for the extra attacker with 53 seconds to play, but it would be Lalor who deposited the puck into the yawning cage with one second to play as Saskatchewan took this game by a 3-1 score! Jessica Vance earned her third win of the season with a 32-save effort while Kelsey Roberts took the loss in stopping 21 of 23 shots.
Highlights of this one are below!
SATURDAY: After a defensive battle was won the night before on a late goal by the Huskies, the Dinos were looking to respond by splitting the series on Father David Bauer Arena ice. More than anything, Calgary was looking to keep pace with the other winners on Friday while trying to slow the Huskies ascension up the standings. The Huskies started Camryn Drever in this game while the Dinos went back to Kelsey Roberts.
These two squads clamped down defensively in the opening frame, not allowing either side to get many good looks at the opposing goal. Those shots that did find their way to the goalies were turned aside at either end of the ice. Despite the two sides trading power-plays in the opening frame, we'd move to the second period still tied 0-0 and with Calgary up 5-4 in shots.
The offences awoke for the second period as there were chances back and forth, but both Drever and Roberts were all about spoiling the fun by keeping the score tied at zeroes. Both sides had ample opportunities, but it would take a late power-play opportunity for the Huskies to break the stalemate. Sophie Lalor skated into the left face-off circle and let a wrist shot go that went into the crowd in front of Roberts, and it was Shyan Elias who got a stick on it to deflect it past Roberts with 37 seconds to play in the period for the power-play goal and, more importantly, the lead as Saskatchewan went into the second intermission leading 1-0 and up 18-14 in shots!
The third period saw both teams open it up once again as Calgary needed an equalizer while Saskatchewan pushed for an insurance goal. Once again, though, the goaltenders were having none of that goal-scoring chatter as both Drever and Roberts denied opportunities at both ends of the rink. Even with the extra attacker, the Dinos still couldn't solve Drever on this night, and the Huskies complete the sweep on the strength of a 1-0 victory! Camryn Drever denied all 22 shots sent her way for her second win and first shutout of the season while Kelsey Roberts deserved a better fate after stopping 27 shots.
Highlights of this game are below!
I'm not sure what happened on the plane to Vancouver, but the Bisons never got their game going whatsoever in this one as the Thunderbirds dominated this game from start to finish. Mikayla Ogrodniczuk scored on the power-play at 11:45 of the first period to get things going for the T-Birds as they led 1-0. Had it not been for Erin Fargey, this one could have been over in the first period, but the Bisons escaped from the relentless UBC attack down 1-0 and trailing 8-5 in shots.
Fargey was at her best once again in the second period as UBC simply exerted their will on the Bisons. The only power-play in the frame went to Manitoba, and that didn't make much of a difference. Fargey kept this a one-goal game through 40 minutes despite UBC holding a 17-8 advantage in shots.
The third period was more of the same as Fargey was doing her best to hold the fort, but it would only last for so long. At 14:24, Shay-Lee McConnell collected a Kenzie Robinson shot off the end-boards as Fargey was late getting across the crease as McConnell buried the puck, and UBC went up 2-0. Just 31 seconds later, Hannah Clayton-Carroll was the recipient of a cross-crease pass from Mathea Fischer as Fargey tried to locate the bouncing puck, but it would come to rest inside the net as UBC took a 3-0 lead! No matter how you slice it, the two shots that Manitoba managed in the period wouldn't be enough to tie the game had they scored on either, but the final horn sounded on a 3-0 UBC win! Tory Micklash had a very quiet night in earning her third win and second shutout on a ten-save night while Erin Fargey took the loss despite making 24 stops.
Highlights of UBC's goals are below!
SATURDAY: Manitoba was looking to change their fortunes after a stinker of a game on Friday while UBC looked to continue to collect points with another win on home ice. Amanda Schubert was in the blue paint for Manitoba while Tory Micklash was in her normal spot in front of the cage for UBC.
This game had much more even play in the opening period from both teams. Manitoba had opportunities that were denied by Micklash, and UBC's chances were turned aside by Schubert. Power-plays came often as UBC was whistled for four minor penalties compared to Manitoba's two minor penalties, but the goalies kept things even through 20 minutes as the game remained 0-0. UBC led in shots through one period by a 9-7 count.
The second period started the same way the first period ended as the two netminders traded saves once again. Just past the midway point of the period, though, we'd see the numbers change on the scoreboard. Kenzie Robinson got a shot away from the right face-off dot that Schubert kicked out with her right pad, but it went right out front to Ashley McFadden who chipped the rebound up and over Schubert to make it a 1-0 game for UBC! The goalies would settle back in for the remainder of the period doing what they do best, but UBC went to the second break up 1-0 and leading 19-13 in shots!
The third period saw UBC employ a suffocating defence as they looked to close out this one. As the period went on, Manitoba pressed for the equalizer, but Micklash was equal to the task. With 2:06 remaining in the game, Manitoba rolled out six attackers as Schubert went to the bench, but the extra player didn't change their fortunes in the last couple of minutes as the horn sounded on a 1-0 UBC victory! Tory Micklash denied all Manitoba shots for a second-straight night as she posted her fourth win and third shutout of the season while Amanda Schubert was good on 24 of 25 shots, but took the loss.
Highlights of this game are below!
This game started with chances at both ends, but neither goaltender was giving anything up early. A pair of penalties against Mount Royal gave Regina some glorious opportunities, but Ross was equal to the task. The game began to even itself out as the parade to the penalty box for both teams continued, but neither could gain any advantage in the first period as the teams went to the dressing rooms tied 0-0 with Regina holding a 6-2 edge in shots.
The second period featured just one minor penalty assessed to Mount Royal as the home side got their legs going and found some offence. Despite their efforts, they ran into Kish who turned aside all shots she saw. At the other end, Ross made a couple of big saves to keep Regina off the board, and we'd head to the third period still tied 0-0, but Mount Royal closing the gap in shots with a 6-5 edge in that frame.
The third period would see the deadlock broken early as Breanne Trotter picked up a loose puck behind the Regina net, stepped out on the left side, and roofed the puck over Kish just 47 seconds into the period as MRU went up 1-0! The two sides would trade opportunities over the next ten minutes, but we'd see another goal just past the midway point of the frame. Anna Purschke dug a puck out from a scrum along the boards, skated it deep into the Regina zone, and spotted Victoria Dyer on the backdoor as Dyer redirected the pass into the yawning cage behind Kish at 6:23 to put Mount Royal up by a pair! With time winding down, Regina pressed for goals, and they would find one with 1:02 left and the extra attacker on when Tamara McVannel's shot from the high slot found its way through traffic and past Ross to make it 2-1! That's all Regina would manage in this game, though, as Mount Royal held on for the 2-1 victory! Kaitlyn Ross earned her third win of the season in stopping 20 of 21 shots while Jane Kish suffered the loss after making 14 saves.
Highlights are below!
SATURDAY: If Friday's game was entertaining for Mount Royal fans, the home side saved the best for the second-half of this two-game set. In saying that and foreshadowing the ending of this recap, I'm not going to hammer away on the Regina Cougars. Here's what happened after Morgan Baker arrived at her net for Regina and Zoe de Beauville went out to the Mount Royal crease.
Just 1:49 into the first period, Mackenize Butz's point shot was tipped in front by Kate Scidmore past Baker, and MRU grabbed the early 1-0 lead. Regina, not content to let this game get away from them, battled back with some solid offensive zone series, but they couldn't get anything pas de Beauville in the first period. After 20 minutes of play, Mount Royal held the 1-0 lead and a 7-6 edge in shots.
The wheels, however, came off in the second period. Anna Purschke scored 1:07 into the period to make it 2-0. Ten minutes later, Purschke added her second of the game on the power-play at 11:55, and MRU went up 3-0. Kate Scidmore added her second of the game with a shorthanded marker at 18:24 to make it 4-0, and Tianna Ko would squeeze one additional goal in before the horn, adding Mount Royal's fifth goal with 13 seconds to play to make it a 5-0 game after 40 minutes. The 21-13 margin in shots held by Mount Royal seemed to matter little at this point.
Jaycee Magwood would snap de Beauville's shutout at 12:57 to make it a 5-1 game, but Kate Scidmore would record her first Canada West hat trick with a shorthanded goal at 19:53 to ice this game and send Mount Royal home with a 6-1 victory! Zoe de Beauville made 17 saves for her first win of the season while Morgan Baker made 20 saves on a day where six got by her.
Highlights of this game are below!
| School | Record | Points | GF | GA | Streak | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lethbridge | 5-2-0-1 | 16 | 20 | 15 | L1 | BYE |
| Mount Royal | 5-3-0-0 | 15 | 16 | 8 | W2 | BYE |
| Saskatchewan | 4-2-1-1 | 15 | 13 | 11 | W2 | vs UBC |
| Alberta | 4-3-1-0 | 14 | 24 | 9 | W1 | vs CAL |
| British Columbia | 4-2-0-2 | 14 | 13 | 20 | W2 | @ SAS |
| Calgary | 3-4-1-0 | 11 | 11 | 13 | L2 | @ ALB |
| Manitoba | 2-6-0-0 | 6 | 9 | 18 | L3 | BYE |
| Regina | 1-6-1-0 | 5 | 12 | 24 | L2 | BYE |
The Last Word
In a weird scheduling quirk, half of the teams have this upcoming weekend off as part of the conference bye while the other half have next weekend off. I'm not sure who decided this, but it's going to make for a couple of shorter editions of The Rundown over the next couple of weeks.What is clear, based on the standings, is that Lethbridge is for real, Mount Royal and Saskatchewan are finding their ways, Alberta has to figure out how to score at five-on-five, Calgary is falling back to earth, and the two youngest teams in Manitoba and Regina are starting to fade out of the playoff picture. The four teams who play next weekend should provide some real insight as to who will finish where depending on results or whether this whole playoff picture is up in the air.
If there are trends to keep an eye on next week, Alberta's power-play is still clipping along at better than 34%, but their 12 power-play goals makes up half their total goals. If we take away the 14 goals surrendered to Alberta in Week 1 by the UBC Thunderbirds, UBC is is the best defensive team based on goals-against over the last three weeks. Saskatchewan, who has won four games in regulation time, only has a goal-differential of +2, so it's pretty clear that one-goal games are their specialty and blowouts won't be on the menu. And Calgary, who started so strong this season, has only managed five goals in their last six games, being shutout in three of those six games.
While these four teams put some distance between themselves and Manitoba with their play over the last few weeks, the trends say that nothing is even close to being decided in the Canada West Conference. As I keep repeating, this conference might be the hardest to win in Canada university hockey, and five points separating the potential six teams who are in playoff spots right now mean that anything can, and likely will, happen.
Why aren't you watching this amazing hockey, folks?
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
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