Lethbridge - The University of Calgary Dinos' made the most of their many power play opportunities, Friday night, scoring five unanswered goals en route to a 5-1 victory over the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns, in the first of a two game home-and-home series.
The Dinos were two for six on the power play and added a shorthanded goal, while the 'Horns went 0 for 11 on the night.
Iya Gavrilova led the Calgary offensive, netting two goals and an assist, while Jenna Smith, Heather Berzins, and Janelle Parent each earned individual markers on the night.
Kirsten Reeves netted the lone goal for the Pronghorns.
Hayley Dowling got the start for Calgary and allowed only one goal on 36 shots.
Crystal Patterson started in net for Lethbridge, turning aside 34 of the 39 shots she faced.
The Dinos' offensive unit looked strong in the opening minutes of play, with Iya Gavrilova, Stephanie Zvonkovic, and Jessyka Holt each with great scoring chances, but it was Lethbridge who netted the first goal of the game, at the midway mark of the opening frame.
Reeves cross-ice centering pass bounced off the skate of a Calgary defender and snuck over the line, giving the 'Horns an early 1-0 into the first intermission.
The second period can be summed up in one word - penalties. Back-and-forth power play opportunities for both teams allowed for a flurry of scoring chances and forced some great goaltending at each end of the ice.
Calgary netted the elusive equalizing goal at 6:16. Gavrilova's hard shot was redirected by the Lethbridge keeper but Smith managed to secure the loose rebound and quickly unload a high wrister past a down-and-out Patterson.
The Dinos' added a second power-play marker as the ten minute mark approached, this time courtesy of Gavrilova, whose no-look backhand, from Zvonkovic, beat an unsuspecting Patterson low glove-side, making it 2-1 Calgary.
With a flurry of bodies in front of the net as time expired, Patterson held on to make a stellar stop in the final minute play, twisting to freeze a fleeting puck and keep her team within one, headed into the second break.
The Dinos' would extend their lead by three in the third, with Parent and Berzins each adding individual markers while Gavrilova notched her second of the night.
With this win, the Dinos improve to 2-1-0 while the Horns fall to 0-3-0.Game two of the home-and-home series goes tomorrow night at Ron Ebbesen Arena in Airdrie.