Max Sturley; Dinos Communications
CALGARY – A three goal third period pushed the University of Calgary Dinos past the University of Manitoba Bisons 5-2 in their Canada West season opener, Friday night at the Father David Bauer Arena.
The Dinos wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as just 39 seconds in Logan Fisher knocked the puck out of mid-air, past Bisons netminder Byron Spriggs, following a Jared Hauf wrister, quickly making it 1-0.
Manitoba went shotless through the first seven minutes of action, as they unable to find the scoreboard in the first frame, despite a 5-on-3 power play chance.
Beginning the second period, the Dinos kept their foot on the gas, doubling their lead just over two minutes into the middle stanza.
Third-year sniper Riley Sheen took a slick pass from Cain Franson before besting Spriggs over the right shoulder, doubling the lead, 2-0.
"I was just able to beat the screen," Sheen said on his goal.
"I thought our line, when I scored my goal, had the puck in the offensive zone, we wore the team down and I was able to get a great pass in the slot from Franson."
Just over halfway through the period, despite limited offensive zone time, the Bisons cut into the Dinos lead.
Manitoba captain Brett Stovin cut in on a mini breakaway before going to the backhand to beat Dinos goaltender Jordan Papirny.
Two minutes after Stovin's tally, the Bisons squared up the contest.
Rookie Bisons forward Devin Skoleski completed a nice passing play, beating Papirny with a wrister from a sharp angle, making it 2-2.
The Dinos started quickly again in the third, with Ryan Graham going shortside shelf three minutes in.
The play of the game came just 1:16 later, as Sheen danced his way from his own end into the Bisons zone before setting up Franson for an empty netter, doubling the Dinos lead again.
Six minutes later, the Dinos added an insurance marker from Tim Vanstone, before cruising to a 5-2 opening night victory.
The Dinos outshot the Bisons 39-16, with Jordan Papirny making 14 saves for his first win of the season.
"Getting sweeps is critical" Dinos Head Coach Mark Howell added.
"We want to stay atop of the standings, and getting sweeps is hard to do. [Manitoba] is going to be harder to play against tomorrow."
The Dinos and Bisons will meet tomorrow for a matinee affair.
-UC-
Photo by David Moll