Griffins' strong goaltending, defence force UBC to work hard for 2-0 win
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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|
0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Team Stats
UBC
| Game Statistics | UBC | MacEwan University |
|---|---|---|
| PowerPlays | 2 for 5 | 0 for 4 |
| Shorthanded Goals | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties (min) | 4 (8) | 5 (10) |
| Shots on Goal | 28 | 10 |
| Face Offs Won | 0 | 0 |
Jason Hills
For MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – The MacEwan Griffins were shut out and outshot quite handily for a second-straight game against the powerhouse UBC Thunderbirds – but they made the No.1 ranked team in the country battle hard for the win.
Griffins goaltender Lindsey Johnson made 26 saves, and MacEwan was deadlocked in a 0-0 game before UBC scored two power play markers in the third period to decide the Saturday afternoon contest at the Downtown Community Arena.
Canada West leading scorer Grace Elliott scored her 23rd goal of the season at the 2:51 mark of the third period, and then added her 24th goal and 36th point of the season with her 10th power play goal of the year just over midway through the third to put the game out of reach.
"Both games were close going into the third period, and we're right there in the final 20 minutes with one of the top teams in the country ... we'll take that any day," said Griffins head coach Chris Leeming.
"They scored two power play goals against us, but overall, I thought our penalty kill did a great job. Our goaltending was really strong this weekend."
After being outshot 51-12 on Friday in a 3-0 loss, the Griffins were under attack once again by UBC, who got their potent offence to work, outshooting MacEwan 23-6 after 40 minutes, but the Griffins, like they did in Friday's loss, showed a strong commitment to getting in lanes and blocking shots.
Like her counterpart Taya Currie on Friday, Johnson stood tall between the pipes and gave the Griffins a puncher's chance to knock off UBC heading into the third period.
"It's really coming down to are we willing to pay the price in difficult moments, and there were a lot of moments where I thought we did," said Leeming.
"I thought Johny played a real strong game and helped us five-on-five and on the penalty kill, but overall, not getting enough shots this weekend was the lynch pin for us that didn't move (the score) in the other direction."
A penalty with one second left in the second period sent UBC to the power play to start the third. The Griffins were able to kill it off, but just 38 seconds after Sydney Jack came out of the box for serving her hooking penalty, MacEwan went right back to the kill.
UBC's top-ranked power play went right back to work, and Elliott was able to jam home a loose puck on a goal mouth scramble to give the T-Birds a 1-0 lead.
"That is UBC's power play, they have that odd angle shot, and they always have at least two people crashing the net, and sometimes you get there, sometimes you don't, and at the end of the day, they're one of the most offensive teams in U SPORTS," said Johnson.
"With Grace Elliott, with her giant reach, it will go in at some point."
Prior to the game was the annual MacEwan Alumni Department's Skate with the Griffins event and two special skaters were selected to be in the MacEwan starting lineup. Edith Emo (Gary Emo, Social Work '09), left, and Elliot Fossey (Taylor Fossey, Design Studies '09) stand for the national anthem with Griffins Kali MacDonald, Allee Isley, Kori Paterson, Sydney Olsen and Robyn Short (Rebecca Chelmick photo).
Elliott made a nice move in the slot and ripped a shot through traffic on UBC's second power play goal of the period to make it 2-0.
The fifth-year power forward has scored 75 goals in her five-year career, and with her size and strength can cause real problems for opposing teams.
"She's got incredible reach, and when she goes to pull that puck, that's what I got caught on (the second goal)," said Johnson.
"When she pulls it across her body, which for most players in this league, if I'm a half step over, I'll be in line with the puck, but for her, it's a full step over, and she beat me with a great shot."
Facing a team like UBC can bring forth many challenges. They have a potent offence, and they're just as stingy defensively. They've only given up 23 goals in 26 games.
While MacEwan struggled to generate and sustain any type of offensive punch against the Thunderbirds, their work in the defensive zone can be commended, and the play from both of their goaltenders was outstanding.
"We're building good habits in the defensive zone... and for me as a goalie, playing UBC is always a big test, but over the years, our D-zone (play) has just grown," said Johnson.
Offensively against a team like UBC, most teams, not just MacEwan, have their challenges against the Thunderbirds – but it comes down to being more confident.
"Our captains said this after the game; I think we just need more confidence in the offensive zone," said Johnson.
"When we get there, we get good chances, we just have to be able to cycle the puck and get more sustained pressure."
MacEwan will be back on home-ice next weekend when they face the Trinity Western Spartans, Feb. 6-7 at the Downtown Community Arena.
