Connor Hood, Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics

EDMONTON - The host Alberta Pandas put forth another dominate performance, shutting out the Saskatchewan Huskies 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Clare Drake Arena.

The shutout is the second-straight for the Pandas over the Huskies, as they outscored their rivals 4-0 during their weekend series. Amy Boucher and Kennedy Ganser scored for Alberta on Saturday, while Kirsten Chamberlin stopped all 12 shots she faced for her third shutout, and fifth win this season. 

Easily the best skater for Saskatchewan was starting goalie Camryn Drever, who was sensational with 29 saves on 31 shots. The Huskies, however, struggled to produce any offence on Saturday. They fall to 5-6-4-1 this season, while the Pandas temporarily move into first place at 10-3-2-0.

Drever kept the Huskies alive in the first period, making 10 saves on 11 Alberta shots. The lone Panda goal came in the final five minutes, as Alex Gowie's initial shot was blocked, before Boucher ripped a wrister past the Huskie keeper from the slot. 

The second period was more of the same, as they Pandas peppered the Huskie net with shots. Alberta outshot Saskatchewan 14-3 in the second, and had a 25-9 lead after 40 minutes. However, Drever was superb in the second, making all 14 saves, including a handful of difficult shots from in tight. 

Trailing by one entering the third, the Huskies couldn't muster any urgency. They managed just three shots total in the third period, each of which was turned aside by Chamberlin. 

Ganser gave the Pandas a much-needed insurance marker, beating Drever with her seventh of the season on a delayed Huskie penalty. 

The Huskies will now enter their winter break, while the Pandas have one makeup game remaining tomorrow against the Calgary Dinos. The Battle of Alberta will get underway at 3:30 p.m. MST at Clare Drake Arena.