WHKY: Huskies Blank T-Birds to Force Deciding Game 3
February 25, 2023
VANCOUVER - The Saskatchewan Huskies staved off elimination with a 2-0 victory over the UBC Thunderbirds at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre on Saturday night. Special teams proved to be a deciding factor as the Huskies scored both goals on the power play, going 2/4 on the advantage, and keeping the T-Birds off the scoresheet with three penalty kills.
"I know we scored two on the power play but our kill was key today and a lot of unselfish people blocking shots and making second efforts," said Huskies head coach Steve Kook. "I thought our power play was good but I thought our kill was exceptional."
The Huskies' penalty kill has been perfect in the series, killing all seven UBC power plays through two games.
Fourth-year Saskatchewan forward Sophie Lalor tallied both goals for her team, scoring almost identical snapshots glove-side on T-Birds goalie Elise Hugens who finished with 15 saves. Lalor leads the playoffs in scoring with three goals and is tied with teammate Isabella Pozzi for the Canada West playoffs point lead.
UBC's loss is the team's first on home-ice this season, ending streaks of 13 straight home-ice victories and 20 straight dating back to last year's Canada West championship run.
"They put a lot of pressure on us, I give them credit, they pressured us hard and took things away from us," said UBC head coach Graham Thomas. "But at the end of the day it was more (about) what we were doing. We had two or three out of five (players) going and not all five, and you're not going to be able to win a playoff game when you're like that."
Huskies goalie Camryn Drever earned a 34-save shutout and has stifled the T-Birds offence turning aside 82 of 83 shots faced in the series.
With the best-of-three series now tied, UBC faces their toughest test of the season against a Huskies team that now holds the momentum. The T-Birds quest for back-to-back championships is at stake in a deciding game 3 matchup.
"Everyone needs to bring a desperation," said Thomas. "Our season's literally on the line, and in these moments we gotta trust in our preparation, and trust that we're a great hockey team. We need to come out, play hungry, and be ready to go."
Puck drop for the series deciding game is set for 3:00 p.m. PT on Sunday afternoon at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
"I know we scored two on the power play but our kill was key today and a lot of unselfish people blocking shots and making second efforts," said Huskies head coach Steve Kook. "I thought our power play was good but I thought our kill was exceptional."
The Huskies' penalty kill has been perfect in the series, killing all seven UBC power plays through two games.
Fourth-year Saskatchewan forward Sophie Lalor tallied both goals for her team, scoring almost identical snapshots glove-side on T-Birds goalie Elise Hugens who finished with 15 saves. Lalor leads the playoffs in scoring with three goals and is tied with teammate Isabella Pozzi for the Canada West playoffs point lead.
UBC's loss is the team's first on home-ice this season, ending streaks of 13 straight home-ice victories and 20 straight dating back to last year's Canada West championship run.
"They put a lot of pressure on us, I give them credit, they pressured us hard and took things away from us," said UBC head coach Graham Thomas. "But at the end of the day it was more (about) what we were doing. We had two or three out of five (players) going and not all five, and you're not going to be able to win a playoff game when you're like that."
Huskies goalie Camryn Drever earned a 34-save shutout and has stifled the T-Birds offence turning aside 82 of 83 shots faced in the series.
With the best-of-three series now tied, UBC faces their toughest test of the season against a Huskies team that now holds the momentum. The T-Birds quest for back-to-back championships is at stake in a deciding game 3 matchup.
"Everyone needs to bring a desperation," said Thomas. "Our season's literally on the line, and in these moments we gotta trust in our preparation, and trust that we're a great hockey team. We need to come out, play hungry, and be ready to go."
Puck drop for the series deciding game is set for 3:00 p.m. PT on Sunday afternoon at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.