Early three-goal onslaught too much for Vikes as SFU picks up home win

After scoring three goals in the opening four minutes of the first period, Simon Fraser University cruised to a 5-2 win over the University of Victoria on Friday night at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre.

Brandon Tidy, Spencer Unger, and Mathew Berry-Lamontagna scored on the first three shots of the night to open an early 3-0 lead. UVic was able to regroup and pull within a pair of goals on two occasions, but goals from Mak Barden and Brendan Lamont put the brakes on any hopes of a Victoria rally.

"We started off really well," says SFU head coach Mark Coletta. "I mean we knew we gave away points last night (at TWU) and it was a tough one, so I think we came out like we were supposed to."

"We’ve got four real good lines, I think they can all play. I think we’ve just got to find that fire for 60 minutes. If all four of our lines are going, and we’re moving, we’re going to be good."

After the initial scoring burst, the Clan had to battle through penalty troubles that resulted in 38 penalty minutes and three separate five-on-three attempts for the Vikes.

"Our penalty kill was good, a lot of work on the five-on-three," says  Coletta.

The Vikes got on the board midway through the second with Brandon Tidy serving a slashing penalty, as former WHLer Austin Wellsby scored his first BCIHL goal. But Barden replied for the Clan, cleaning up Tyler Basham’s breakaway attempt to put SFU up 4-1.

UVic answered back with a power play goal 2:31 into the third period, and applied pressure throughout the frame. Lamont ended UVic comeback hopes with a power play marker of his own, his sixth goal of the season — tying his career-high goals total.

Lyndon Stanwood had to stand tall in net, ensuring that only two goals were scored on 13 power play attempts by UVic. He made 19 saves on 21 shots (.905 SV%). UVic had the shot advantage at 21-17.

Ten Clan players made it on the scoresheet — Tidy, Unger, Berry-Lamontagna, Barden, Basham, Lamont, Jayden Piattelli, Austin Adam, Ian Mackey, and Jaret Babych. Basham, Barden, Tidy, and Piattelli had multi-point nights.

SFU hits the road next weekend to take on Eastern Washington and Selkirk College on Friday and Saturday. The games will also be streamed live on HockeyTV. Puck drop is at 7:30 PM on Friday and 7:00 PM on Saturday.

Three Stars:

1st Star: SFU #53 Brandon Tidy (1G, 1A)
2nd Star: SFU #64 Jayden Piattelli (0G, 2A)
3rd Star: UVic #21 Landen Matechuk (1G, 0A)