Second line powers T-Birds to 5-2 win over Dinos

VANCOUVER - A short-handed UBC Thunderbirds (5-9-1) squad relied on a huge performance from their second line as they earned a hard fought 5-2 victory over the Calgary Dinos (8-5-2) Friday night at Father Bauer Arena.

Tyler Ruel led UBC with a hat trick and an assist while linemate Matthew Schneider had a four point night as well with a goal and three assists.  Their third partner in crime, captain Jeff Lynch, finished the night with three assists as the T-Birds second line tallied the first four UBC goals before Jordan Inglis added an empty net insurance marker late in the third.

The T-Birds played the game with just four defenceman in regular rotation, as UBC was without Matt Pepe (illness), Nick Duff (knee), and Theran Yeo (groin), who was injured on his first shift of the game.

Despite the short bench, the T-Birds responded with a high tempo effort.  Head coach Milan Dragicevic was impressed with his team's performance after the tough run they have been in that has seen them with just one win in their last 10 games.

"Now that is a gritty effort," said Dragicevic.  "We got a number of big games tonight.  I thought all of our defenceman played really well under the circumstances, especially John Flatters.  Schneider, Ruel, and Lynch were great for us.  It's the first full game they have played together and it obviously paid off."

Schneider opened the scoring for the T-Birds, as he and Ruel fought through the Calgary defence at the blue line and a mad scramble in front led to the puck bouncing in over Calgary starter Jeff Weber just over eight and a half minutes into the game.

Ruel potted the first of his three goals to put UBC up 2-0 at the 10:36 mark of the opening period with a wrist shot from the left boards that found its way through a crowd and beat Weber low glove side.

The third year winger then chased Weber, a former T-Bird, with another wicked wrist shot.  Ruel rocketed a shot top corner blocker side from the left circle with just 1:28 remaining in the period.  

Ruel, who was the last T-Bird to net a hat trick in Canada West action with a three goal effort against Lethbridge during the 2009 playoffs, scored his third straight for UBC to make it 4-2 at the 12:14 mark of the third.

Dustin Butler, who came in to replace Weber, made 15 saves over the final two periods.  Rookie Jordan White earned his second win in his third start of the season for the T-Birds with fourth-year starter Francois Thuot out with a knee injury.

Calgary scored on their third power play of the first period with a Jerrid Sauer point shot beating a screened White with 2:44 left.

Kyle Annesley made it 3-2 with a goal at the 18:09 mark of the second as he finished off a nice passing play down low with a wrist shot from the right hashmark that beat White low glove side.

The Dinos finished the game 1-for-5 on the power play while UBC didn't convert on any of their three chances with the man advantage.

The two teams meet again Saturday night in the final game before the winter break.  Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. at Father Bauer Arena.