Eoin Colquhoun, Pronghorn Athletics
Lethbridge – For the second night in a row, the Lethbridge Pronghorns carried a 1-0 lead into the third period versus the Calgary Dinos, but tonight they would earn the victory with a 2-1 win in overtime.
Last night in Calgary, the Dinos scored four unanswered goals in the third period to take the first game 4-1.
On the power play to start the second overtime, Captain Mitch Maxwell collected a rebound to the side of the net and potted his second goal in as many nights to give the Pronghorns a weekend split with the Dinos.
After trailing from the 13-minute mark in the first period, the Dinos forced overtime with only 52-seconds remaining. In a wild scramble in front of the Pronghorns net, freshman Riley Sheen chipped a loose puck over 'Horns goaltender Garret Hughson to tie the game at 1-1.
Hughson finished the night with 37 saves, while Matt Greenfield made 41 saves in the Dinos crease.
Coming off the season opener a night ago, the Pronghorns and Dinos both had scoring opportunities early. Bryson Gore had two glorious chances in close but Greenfield stoned him on a short breakaway and made a solid glove save on a two-on-one.
For the Dinos, their best chances came during a two man advantage. 'Horns goaltender Garret Hughson made a spectacular toe save on Chris Collins. Later in the period he turned Garrett Forster away with a slick poke-check.
Justin Valentino opened the scoring with just over seven minutes remaining in the frame. Grabbing a loose puck in the slot, Valentino spun and ripped a shot top corner over Greenfield's shoulder.
Following a relatively fast-paced opening frame, the action turned sloppy in the second with plenty of turnovers by both teams in the neutral zone. Jay Merkley intercepted an errant pass and fed Dalton Sward for a clean break, but Greenside made a great glove save to keep the Dinos within one.
Late in the second, the Pronghorns had a four-minute power play but it was the Dinos that would have the better of the chances. Adam Kambeitz broke in after intercepting a pass just inside his own zone but fanned on the shot. Mitch Cook and Cain Franson also broke in alone during the penalty kill but neither could beat Hughson.
With time running out in the man advantage, the Pronghorns finally sustained some possession and Valnetino found himself alone in front, but Greenfield out-waited Valentino, making the glove save.
In the third, both teams had their chances, but both goaltenders were once again solid. Hughson made 12 saves in the period, including turning aside Dylan Busenius in tight and stretching to make a glove save to rob Foster on the rebound.
Greenfield made 10 stops in the third to keep the Dinos within striking distance and was helped out by his crossbar twice as both Jay Merkley and Evan Wardley beat him with shots but found the bar.
Near the end of the first overtime, the Dinos took a penalty on a scramble and nearly right after they killed off that penalty in the second overtime, the Dinos went back to the box, setting up Maxwell's game winning goal with just over two minutes to play.
The Pronghorns (1-1-0) head out on the road next weekend, traveling to Saskatoon to face the Saskatchewan Huskies. Next up for the Dinos (1-0-1) is also a road trip, heading to Vancouver to face the UBC Thunderbirds.