SASKATOON, Sask. – Sasha Mutala scored on a wide-open net after intercepting a Roddy Ross pass attempt three minutes into overtime to give the visiting UBC Thunderbirds a 5-4 win over the Saskatchewan Huskies in game 1 of the Canada West Semifinal series.

Mutala's game-winner closed a thrilling series-opening game which saw nine goals, 14 powerplays, and the score tied three times. The win gives the Thunderbirds a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, with a spot at the conference championship and U-Cup championship on the line. 

"We know we have it in our room, but it's just been hit and miss, and we haven't been able to really put it together," said UBC head coach Sven Butenschon following the win. "I think the whole game plan has just been, no matter what happens, go out, play for your boys, play fun, have fun, work to get your balance if things don't go well and stick together. We're just trying to enjoy every night, and I think it's allowing our guys to feel a little more confident and skilled out there."

Friday night's contest got off to a hot start, with both of the Canada West rivals finding the back of the net in the opening frame. UBC's Josh Williams opened the scoring with his 7th career postseason goal, sneaking a wrister past Huskie goaltender Roddy Ross glove-side.

Six minutes later, Saskatchewan captain Justin Ball, the only remaining member of the Huskies 2019-20 Canada West Championship team, tied things up after a neutral zone turnover sprung a Huskie 2-on-1 for Ball and Ethan Regnier, who picked up the primary assist on the score. 

The Second period opened with an early Huskie penalty, but First Team Canada West All-Star goalie Roddy Ross made impressive saves to keep the game tied. Ross would finish the game with 37 saves.

After a period of back-and-forth between the two teams, Saskatchewan defenceman Gunner Kinniburgh sent a tape-to-tape pass to Chantz Petruic on a breakaway, who, after missing on his initial shot attempt, lifted the rebound up and over the outstretched blocker of Cole Schwebius to take the lead.

A few minutes later, Landon Kosior extended the Huskie lead after sending a T-Bird to the ice with a nice move in the corner, while the two squads each had a player in the box.

UBC would cut the deficit back to one in short order, however. Immediately following a successful penalty kill, Scott Atkinson made no mistake on the breakaway, sliding the puck between Ross' right pad and the post. 
Coming out of the locker room for the third, it took just four minutes for the Thunderbirds to tie things at three apiece. On a Huskie powerplay, Carson Latimer capitalized on some offensive puck possession for the T-Birds, scoring just the second short-handed goal allowed by the Dogs this season. 

Second-Team Canada West All-Star Sasha Mutala would give UBC their first lead since the opening frame six minutes later, converting a second Thunderbird powerplay with a wrist shot from the point. 
In need of a spark to tie things up, a timely UBC penalty gave the Huskies just what they needed. A pass down low to former Saskatoon Blade captain Trevor Wong would pull Schwebius out of position, and a quick pass found Liam Keeler in the middle of the ice, staring down a wide-open net to tie things up for the third time. 

Despite a last-minute penalty from UBC, any threat of late-game heroics faded with a Huskie penalty on the ensuing faceoff, sending the game to overtime and making way for Mutala's eventual OT winner. 
"We just weren't moving our feet enough," said Huskie head coach Brandin Cote after the game. "It really wasn't the way that we typically play. It was right there for the taking, but ultimately, I thought they deserved to win today."

The Huskies and Thunderbirds return to action for game two of their Semifinal series tomorrow night. Puck drop at Merlis Belsher Place is set for 7:00 PM CST. Tickets are available at HuskieTickets.com, and fans unable to attend can catch the action live on CanadaWest.tv or listen to HuskieFAN.ca.