FEATURED POLL
See Results Bisons lose close 3-2 score to Dinos
By Kai DeNeve, UC Sports Info
February 9th, 2008 11:00pm
CALGARY - Jared Aulin extended his point streak to 14 games as the Calgary Dinos topped the Manitoba Bisons 3-2 Saturday night to sweep the weekend series.
With the win, Calgary (14-7-4) clinches third place in the Canada West standings and will host either Regina or UBC in a first round playoff series.
Backup goaltender Jordan McLaughlin was in goal for the Dinos, and put forth a solid effort while stopping 27 of 29 shots as well as multiple good scoring chances for his third victory of the season. “He played very well tonight, it was good to see him step up,” Calgary coach Scott Atkinson commented after the game.
McLaughlin had to come up big early on, as the Dinos had a near-repeat of the beginning of last game, taking two penalties less than a minute into the period to give the Bisons a nearly full 2-minute man advantage. Calgary played well defensively, preventing passes across the zone and clearing the puck well.
The first goal of the game came at 12:22 for the Dinos, as Aaron Richards tipped a soft Dan Ehrman pass towards the net past Manitoba’s Krister Toews to put the Dinos up 1-0 on only the Dinos third shot of the game.
Calgary would continue their goal-scoring ways just over a minute later, as Aulin one-timed a Brett O’Malley feed across the slot past Toews. Ryan Annesley also picked up an assist on the play.
The game was physical throughout, with both teams trying to gain dominance in the neutral zone. Calgary defender Travis Friedley was nearly victim to the hard-checking Bisons late in the period, but neatly evaded a dual-check from two Manitoba defenders as they collided with each other.
The second period started on a wide open note, as both goaltenders were forced to make excellent saves on back-to-back breakaways in the first minute of play.
Manitoba would eventually solve McLaughlin though, as forward Michael Hellyer used a Calgary defender as a screen to wrist a low shot just inside the post to put the Bisons on the board.
The Aulin line would respond minutes later though, as O’Malley notched his fourteenth of the season, capitalizing on an Aulin pass from the corner and putting the Dinos ahead 3-1.
Calgary had trouble clearing the zone late, and got lucky on a few loose scrambles in front. They would end up drawing a penalty on one of those scrambles though, which set up a Manitoba power play goal with 5:44 remaining as defender Kip Workman blasted a shot from the slot past McLaughlin.
Friedley nearly put the Dinos up another point, but rang a quick wrist shot off the post with under 2 minutes to play.
Manitoba would put a solid amount of pressure on the Dinos throughout the third period, keeping the zone for much of the frame. The Dinos had some chances as well, breaking out on odd-man rushes, but failed to extend their lead.
McLaughlin would cover a shot with less than a minute left, giving Manitoba a chance to pull their goalie, but Calgary would last through the late pressure to win their second to send the Bisons home winless. “They worked hard, but we also missed out on a lot of chances,” said Atkinson.
Calgary will play their final game of a three-game weekend series against Alberta at the Centennial Arena Sunday before heading to Lethbridge to play their final two games of the regular season. The Bisons will be home to Regina to round of their season next weekend.
With the win, Calgary (14-7-4) clinches third place in the Canada West standings and will host either Regina or UBC in a first round playoff series.
Backup goaltender Jordan McLaughlin was in goal for the Dinos, and put forth a solid effort while stopping 27 of 29 shots as well as multiple good scoring chances for his third victory of the season. “He played very well tonight, it was good to see him step up,” Calgary coach Scott Atkinson commented after the game.
McLaughlin had to come up big early on, as the Dinos had a near-repeat of the beginning of last game, taking two penalties less than a minute into the period to give the Bisons a nearly full 2-minute man advantage. Calgary played well defensively, preventing passes across the zone and clearing the puck well.
The first goal of the game came at 12:22 for the Dinos, as Aaron Richards tipped a soft Dan Ehrman pass towards the net past Manitoba’s Krister Toews to put the Dinos up 1-0 on only the Dinos third shot of the game.
Calgary would continue their goal-scoring ways just over a minute later, as Aulin one-timed a Brett O’Malley feed across the slot past Toews. Ryan Annesley also picked up an assist on the play.
The game was physical throughout, with both teams trying to gain dominance in the neutral zone. Calgary defender Travis Friedley was nearly victim to the hard-checking Bisons late in the period, but neatly evaded a dual-check from two Manitoba defenders as they collided with each other.
The second period started on a wide open note, as both goaltenders were forced to make excellent saves on back-to-back breakaways in the first minute of play.
Manitoba would eventually solve McLaughlin though, as forward Michael Hellyer used a Calgary defender as a screen to wrist a low shot just inside the post to put the Bisons on the board.
The Aulin line would respond minutes later though, as O’Malley notched his fourteenth of the season, capitalizing on an Aulin pass from the corner and putting the Dinos ahead 3-1.
Calgary had trouble clearing the zone late, and got lucky on a few loose scrambles in front. They would end up drawing a penalty on one of those scrambles though, which set up a Manitoba power play goal with 5:44 remaining as defender Kip Workman blasted a shot from the slot past McLaughlin.
Friedley nearly put the Dinos up another point, but rang a quick wrist shot off the post with under 2 minutes to play.
Manitoba would put a solid amount of pressure on the Dinos throughout the third period, keeping the zone for much of the frame. The Dinos had some chances as well, breaking out on odd-man rushes, but failed to extend their lead.
McLaughlin would cover a shot with less than a minute left, giving Manitoba a chance to pull their goalie, but Calgary would last through the late pressure to win their second to send the Bisons home winless. “They worked hard, but we also missed out on a lot of chances,” said Atkinson.
Calgary will play their final game of a three-game weekend series against Alberta at the Centennial Arena Sunday before heading to Lethbridge to play their final two games of the regular season. The Bisons will be home to Regina to round of their season next weekend.
