Max Sturley, Dinos Communications
CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos extended their win streak to four games off the back of Tyler Gutenburg's first career start, once again dominating the University of Regina Cougars winning 5-2, Saturday afternoon at the Father David Bauer Arena. The victory completes the season sweep over the Cougars, with Dinos outscoring Regina 24-7 over the four wins.
"Definitley knew this was a big game for me, the boys came out and it was nice and easy," Gutenburg said after stopping 19 of 21 on the afternoon.
"They didn't have a whole lot of chances till the third period, but nothing you could do on those ones."
The Dinos carried the momentum yesterday's performance and struck early in the first period.
Four minutes into the contest, with Dane Gibson serving a holding penalty, Matt Alfaro notched his sixth goal of the season, having scored in back-to-back games.
Mitch Cook drew two Cougar defenders to the far corner before dishing a backhand pass to an onrushing Alfaro, who roofed the puck over the glove of Regina netminder Brandon Holtby.
Two minutes later, Graham Black doubled the Calgary lead with his third of the campaign.
Off the carom from the backboards, Black stepped into a slapper from a sharp angle below the far circle. The shot handcuffed Holtby, deflecting off his catching glove then into the back of the net.
The early stages of the second period saw more of the same, as the Dinos continued to dissect the Cougars defense with ease, scoring three times in a span of 3:33.
Mitch Cook started off the streak by capping off a sharp passing play with Dane Gibson, sniping a wrister over Holtby, good for his sixth of the year.
Shortly after, Riley Sheen took a tape-to-tape stretch pass from linemate Coda Gordon before dancing into the Cougars zone, besting defender Zak Hicks before going top shelf over Holtby's glove, potting his 17th, which is second in Canada West for goals scored.
Robbie Fisher then made it 5-0, blasting home a one-timer going unchecked in the slot, set up by a backhand seam pass from Josh Uhrich.
Hicks and Tyler Kreklewich would get goals back for the Cougars in the third period, ending Gutenburg's shutout bid.
The Dinos stayed the course and coasted to the victory.
"When our team sticks to our identity which is hunting down pucks and grinding teams down low, I think we're a tough team to beat," said Dinos forward Robbie Fisher.
If we play with our structure and strength, we are a tough team to stop."
Next weekend the Dinos will end their regular season with a home-and-home split against the Alberta Golden Bears while the Cougars will close out their campaign with two home games against UBC.
-UC-