CALGARY – The ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities and play tight defence was the difference as the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men's hockey team picked up a win in their opening game of 2019 by a score of 3-1 over the Calgary Dinos Friday evening at the Father David Bauer Arena.

The Huskies went two-for-four on the power play and Taran Kozun made 26 saves in the win.

Jordan Papirny's first save of the game came halfway through the period, as he denied Huskies forward Collin Shirley on the breakaway with a glove save to keep the game scoreless.

The Huskies managed to draw a late penalty, and they capitalized quickly. Just five seconds into the man advantage, Logan McVeigh deflected a Jesse Forsberg wrist shot the break the deadlock. 

The deflection was McVeigh's 11th tally of the season, with Forsberg and Levi Cable picking up the assists.

The 1-0 score would carry through the second period, as the two sides failed to score. The best chance of the middle stanza for either team came for Dinos forward Tim Vanstone, who nearly knocked in a failed clearing attempt by Huskies netminder Taran Kozun. 

Entering the third period, the Dinos opened up the action throwing five shots on Kozun in the first two minutes. Just a minute later, the pressure paid off.

Matt Alfaro fired home his third goal of the season, capping off a gorgeous passing play which was started by Cain Franson. Coda Gordon then fed Alfaro in the high slot, who snapped it by Kozun, making it 1-1.

Six minutes later, the Huskies retook the lead thanks to a Franson high sticking penalty. 22 seconds into the power play, Saskatchewan's leading scorer Carson Stadnyk, finished off a doorstep chance sneaking the puck past an outstretched Jordan Papirny.

The Dinos pulled Papirny with two minutes to go, but a turnover at the offensive blue line led to Stadnyk picking up his second goal of the period to ice the game on an empty net.

By the final whistle, the two teams combined for a total of 42 penalty minutes, setting the stage for yet another battle between the two Canada West foes.

Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. tomorrow night at the Father David Bauer Arena.