CALGARY – It was a roaring start to the Canada West playoffs for the University of Calgary Dinos.
Four goals in the first period paced the home team as they skated to a 6-2 decision in Game 1 of their conference quarter-final matchup against the Manitoba Bisons.
"Our level of execution in the first period was really good, we played with great energy and intensity," said Dinos head coach Mark Howell. "The second and third periods were not great, we have got to be a lot better."
First-year forward Kaden Elder was the lone Dino to score twice as five different Calgary players found the back of the net. Coda Gordon had a game-high three points all on assists.
Jeremy Leipsic and Adam Henry netted both goals for the Bisons as they did all their scoring in the second period.
Matt Alfaro opened the scoring for the Dinos at 8:47 of the first period on a power play opportunity. Bisons goaltender Riley Lamb stopped the original shot from Gordon, but the rebound popped out directly to Alfaro who put it home.
The Dinos extended their lead to 2-0 three minutes later. After prolonged pressure in the offensive zone, Lane Zablocki fired a shot through traffic from the blue line beating Lamb. The Dinos did not stop there, as Ryan Graham took the puck around the offensive zone and came through the slot where he scored another goal, making it 3-0.
The Dinos capped off a near-perfect opening period with a fourth goal. With under a minute to play in the first period, Gordon made a tip pass in front of the net to Elder who came in the back door and put the puck in the empty net.
Down by four, the Bisons put on the pressure early in the second period but the Dinos also were not letting up, which started a span in which three goals were scored in five minutes.
Leipsic got the Bisons on the board at 6:47 on a rebound in front of the net during a power play. The Dinos returned the favour under two minutes later with Elder getting his second of the night to regain the four-goal lead. The Bisons continued to press and narrowed the Dinos lead again on a goal by their captain Henry.
The Dinos got the lone goal of the third period on a fortunate bounce off the backboards to Jordan Xavier who beat the goalie to the near side.
Calgary's Brodan Salmond stopped 23 of 25 attempts in his first playoff start for the Dinos, while Lamb made 28 saves on 34 shots for Manitoba.
The Dinos will have an opportunity to close out the best-of-three series on Saturday night with a 7 p.m. puck drop from the Father David Bauer Arena. If necessary, Game 3 will take place on Sunday at 6 p.m.
