Connor Hood, Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics

EDMONTON – Kennedy Ganser scored a pair, leading the Alberta Pandas to a 5-0 win over the Regina Cougars, Friday night at Clare Drake Arena.

Kirsten Chamberlin made 17 saves, earning her fifth shutout this season. Kelsey Tangjerd, Abby Benning, and Autumn MacDougall also scored for Alberta, who earn their 18th conference win (14-5-4-0). 12 of the Pandas 18 conference wins have also come via a shutout. 

The loss for Regina drops their conference record to 7-11-2-3. Morgan Baker started for the Cougars, but was pulled in favour of Jane Kish after giving up five goals on 24 shots through 40 minutes.

The Pandas raced ahead to an early lead in the first, and never looked back in a dominant home-win. Tangjerd opened the scoring nine minutes in, redirecting a Taylor Kezama point shot past Baker. Benning doubled the lead five minutes later, ripping a point shot just below Baker's blocker.

Alberta held a significant 15-4 shot advantage through one, limiting the Cougars to only a handful of offensive zone minutes.

Alberta took full control of the game in the second, as they added another three goals on nine shots. MacDougall was the first to get on the board in the second, as she finished off an incredible solo effort with a backhanded shot over Baker's shoulder. Ganser scored consecutive goals late in the frame, including a bullet wrister on the powerplay, giving Alberta the significant lead.

Kish faired well in relief of Baker, making a handful of solid stops (11 in total) to keep the game from getting out of hand. 

The Cougars did have their chances to get on the scoresheet, including four powerplays, but were unable to gain any traction against the stingy Pandas D. The chances the Cougars did have were turned aside by Chamberlin, who turned in one of her best performances this season. 

The two teams will finish off their series tomorrow afternoon, with the rematch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. MST at Clare Drake Arena.