EDMONTON - It was Saskatchewan captain Bailee Bourassa's day, as she scored two Huskies goals to lead them to a 3-0 victory over the Alberta Pandas Saturday afternoon at the Clare Drake Arena.
The victory adds to the fourth place Huskies (9-5-2) three game winning streak, while the fifth place Pandas (7-5-1) drop both contests to start the second half.
The two goals put Bourassa at four on the year.
Camryn Drever was outstanding between the pipes again, stopping 33 Alberta shots, her second shutout on the season. Panda goaltender Kirsten Chamberlin made 19 saves on 22 shots.
The game was a flip from last night's game, with Alberta largely dominating possession and scoring chances. However, with good goaltending and timely finishing the Huskies were able to sweep Alberta in Edmonton.
The teams picked up right where they left off the previous night, with a fast-paced first period. The Pandas seemed to have rectified some of their possession issues as they were impressive in their aggressive approach.
There were a few high quality chances, a Huskies crossbar off the stick of Nicole Fry, and a point-blank five-hole attempt from Brooklyn Tews that Drever shut the door on. The teams headed to the break deadlocked at zero.
The second period contained four penalties, a stark contrast from the game last night in which one was called all game. Three were charged to the Pandas.
Saskatchewan appeared to capitalize on the final penalty in the period, with a minute to go a wrist shot found it's way past Chamberlin. However, after a referee huddle it was determined that a Huskie was in the crease, disallowing the goal and sending the game to the third still knotted at 0-0.
There was a pressure building that reached it's crux at the beginning of the third period, where a Huskie powerplay turned into a Bourassa breakaway which she backhanded past Chamberlin.
She was not done there, potting her second just two minutes apart from her first and putting the Huskies up 2-0.
Some insurance was added midway through the third with a Jasper Desmarais wrister, her second of the season.
Drever stopped 10 Alberta third period shots, and over the course of this weekend stopped 52 of 53 Panda shots.
This game wraps up the only series between the two, barring a date in the CW playoffs.
The Pandas return to action Friday, February 4th against the Trinity Western Spartans, while the Huskies go home to face the MacEwan Griffins also on the 4th.
