Box Score
Cougars Create Some Distance in Playoff Race
Calgary, AB â€" In what felt like a must win game the Cougars defeated the UBC Thunderbirds in a thrilling overtime game tonight at Flames Community Arenas. Jeremy Burns, Derek Huisman, Cody Cartier, Tyler Jewitt and Zach Evans-Renaud (OT) scored for the Cougars.  Anthony Bardaro (2), Nick Buonassisi and Cole Wilson netted goals for UBC.

UBC opened the scoring on a beautiful passing play finished off by Athony Bardaro at the 3:09 mark of the first. It took some time but the Cougars finally answered with just under two minutes left in the first. Jeremy Burns banged home a late goal and tied the game at one heading into the intermission.

The offense began to roll when UBC scored on a shorthanded two one on one to take the lead. This lit a fire under the Cougars who came back with two goals in less than a minute. Derek Huisman knocked in a loose puck to tie it and Cody Cartier scored on a breakaway to give Mount Royal their first lead of the night.

In the third the Cougars potted another to extend the lead to two. It looked like Mount Royal had two points sewn up but UBC had other plans. The team's leading scorer Cole Wilson was left all alone and he made no mistake, cutting the lead to one. Then with five seconds left, the Cougars did not have enough men on the ice for a faceoff in their own zone. UBC won the draw and Bardaro zipped home his second of the game with just two seconds left on the clock.

The celebration for UBC would be short-lived however.  Zach Evans-Renaud teed up a bomb from the blue line that beat the Thunderbird's netminder and gave the Cougar's an emotional overtime win. The win puts some distance between the Cougars and UBC for the sixth and final playoff spot.

With the win the Cougars move three points up on UBC with a record of 10-12-1. UBC falls to 9-13-2 with the loss.

UBC and Mount Royal will resume action tomorrow afternoon at the Flames Community Arenas. Puck drop is slated for 2:00pm (MT).
                                                                                         
Photo Credit: Evan Buhler

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