Posted: Feb 09, 2018
Max Sturley, Dinos Cmmunications
CALGARY – In control of their own destiny, the University of Calgary Dinos punched their playoff ticket with a dominant win over the Manitoba Bisons, 5-1, Friday night at the Father David Bauer Arena.
"It's huge for us," said Dinos defender Drydn Dow. "Through all that adversity, it brought us even closer, so to battle and get in is a big step for us."
After a physical, back-and-forth start to the contest, forward Riley Sheen opened the scoring for the Dinos in style. After a failed Manitoba breakout, the puck bounced back to Sheen who corralled it before undressing Bisons netminder Byron Spriggs on the backhand making it 1-0.
"It's huge for us," said Dinos defender Drydn Dow. "Through all that adversity, it brought us even closer, so to battle and get in is a big step for us."
After a physical, back-and-forth start to the contest, forward Riley Sheen opened the scoring for the Dinos in style. After a failed Manitoba breakout, the puck bounced back to Sheen who corralled it before undressing Bisons netminder Byron Spriggs on the backhand making it 1-0.
The Dinos would double their lead on a late power play. Chris Collins finished off a give-and-go with Cain Franson with under 10 seconds to go, sniping a short side shot past Spriggs. With the tally, Collins extended his point streak to five straight games.
Heading into the second, the Dinos continued to pour it on. On a 2-on-1, Luke Harrison slid the puck over to Dow who ripped the puck past Spriggs extending the Dinos lead to three, just over three minutes into the middle stanza.
After Warren Callis beat Dinos goaltender Jordan Papirny with a lucky bounce, the Dinos were able to restore the three-goal cushion 10 minutes later.
Following a lengthy shift, Luke Harrison capped off some hard work by linemate Matt Alfaro, burying the puck into the yawning cage.
Following a lengthy shift, Luke Harrison capped off some hard work by linemate Matt Alfaro, burying the puck into the yawning cage.
Heading into the final frame, Manitoba pulled Spriggs after allowing four goals on 28 shots, paving the way for backup Dasan Sydora.
Dow would capture his second goal of the night, scoring on a shorthanded 2-on-1 rush, as Dow played give-and-go with Mitch Cook, before one-timing the puck, post and in, making it 5-1.
Dow would capture his second goal of the night, scoring on a shorthanded 2-on-1 rush, as Dow played give-and-go with Mitch Cook, before one-timing the puck, post and in, making it 5-1.
"A couple great plays by Cook and Harrison to set me up there, I had pretty easy empty nets," noted Dow, who will play his final regular season home game tomorrow.
Papirny stood tall the rest of the way, making 32 saves extending the Dinos win streak to five games.
"It was a great team effort," Harrison added. "Everybody did their job tonight."
The two teams will be back at it tomorrow to conclude the regular season with the matinee affair scheduled for a 2 p.m. puck drop.
Papirny stood tall the rest of the way, making 32 saves extending the Dinos win streak to five games.
"It was a great team effort," Harrison added. "Everybody did their job tonight."
The two teams will be back at it tomorrow to conclude the regular season with the matinee affair scheduled for a 2 p.m. puck drop.
Photo by David Moll