MHKY: Huskies stun Dinos in Game 1
February 23, 2023
CALGARY - Shane Collins scored the game-winner mid-way through the third period to lift the Saskatchewan Huskies to a 5-3 win over the Calgary Dinos in Game 1 of the Canada West Semifinal on Thursday.
The loss is the first for Calgary since Oct. 14 and puts their record-setting season on the brink, heading into Game 2 on Friday at Father David Bauer Arena.
"We came out real slow, we were tentative, I don't know if we were nervous, anxious, or rusty. Sask just went through a really heavy and hard series against Mount Royal. I don't think we played really heavy, we were kind of hoping that pucks would come our way," said Dinos head coach Mark Howell. "As much as we are fast and quick, it's playoffs and they are a big, hard team. It was a valuable lesson tonight, we need to grow from it."
Halfway through the first period, the Dinos struck first. After a successful forecheck to get into enemy territory, Connor Horning found an open Noah King who took his time and fired the puck from the point and Tyson Upper deflected it in to put his team up 1-0.
However, at the 14:10 mark, Huskies' captain Connor Hobbs, with the help of a screen from his teammate, snapped a one-timer from the point to even the score.
Continuing their scoring momentum, the Huskies took advantage of some open ice to take the lead. Rushing up the ice, Jared Dmytriw dished the puck through a pair of Dinos defenders and spotted Jaxan Kaluski for a go-ahead goal.
Bringing energy into the second period, the Huskies showed no signs of slowing down. Taking advantage of a Dinos penalty, Dmytriw wired home a quick shot over the shoulder of Calgary netminder Carl Tetachuk to make it 3-1.
Trailing in the third period, the Dinos were afforded a valuable chance to get back in the game with a four-minute power play. After a long bout in the Huskies' zone, the Dinos finally threaded the needle with Jake Gricius going top shelf.
Then, exactly a minute later, Gricius scored again in a similar fashion to even the score.
Nevertheless, during some four-on-four action, Saskatchewan's Justin Ball drove into the zone and found Collins open. His shot fluttered off a sprawling defender and into the net to put the visitors in front again.
With only a minute and nine seconds left in the contest, and after the Dinos pulled their goalie, the Huskies solidified their win and put an end to the Dinos historic 23-game winning streak with an empty net goal by Ball.
"I am confident in our group, they are smart and understand what it's going to take and we will turn it around tomorrow night," stated Howell.
Puck drop in Game 2 is 7 p.m. with tickets on sale at GoDinos.com/buytickets.
The loss is the first for Calgary since Oct. 14 and puts their record-setting season on the brink, heading into Game 2 on Friday at Father David Bauer Arena.
"We came out real slow, we were tentative, I don't know if we were nervous, anxious, or rusty. Sask just went through a really heavy and hard series against Mount Royal. I don't think we played really heavy, we were kind of hoping that pucks would come our way," said Dinos head coach Mark Howell. "As much as we are fast and quick, it's playoffs and they are a big, hard team. It was a valuable lesson tonight, we need to grow from it."
Halfway through the first period, the Dinos struck first. After a successful forecheck to get into enemy territory, Connor Horning found an open Noah King who took his time and fired the puck from the point and Tyson Upper deflected it in to put his team up 1-0.
However, at the 14:10 mark, Huskies' captain Connor Hobbs, with the help of a screen from his teammate, snapped a one-timer from the point to even the score.
Continuing their scoring momentum, the Huskies took advantage of some open ice to take the lead. Rushing up the ice, Jared Dmytriw dished the puck through a pair of Dinos defenders and spotted Jaxan Kaluski for a go-ahead goal.
Bringing energy into the second period, the Huskies showed no signs of slowing down. Taking advantage of a Dinos penalty, Dmytriw wired home a quick shot over the shoulder of Calgary netminder Carl Tetachuk to make it 3-1.
Trailing in the third period, the Dinos were afforded a valuable chance to get back in the game with a four-minute power play. After a long bout in the Huskies' zone, the Dinos finally threaded the needle with Jake Gricius going top shelf.
Then, exactly a minute later, Gricius scored again in a similar fashion to even the score.
Nevertheless, during some four-on-four action, Saskatchewan's Justin Ball drove into the zone and found Collins open. His shot fluttered off a sprawling defender and into the net to put the visitors in front again.
With only a minute and nine seconds left in the contest, and after the Dinos pulled their goalie, the Huskies solidified their win and put an end to the Dinos historic 23-game winning streak with an empty net goal by Ball.
"I am confident in our group, they are smart and understand what it's going to take and we will turn it around tomorrow night," stated Howell.
Puck drop in Game 2 is 7 p.m. with tickets on sale at GoDinos.com/buytickets.