The Huskies women's hockey team had its seven-game win streak snapped with a 2-0 loss to Alberta on January 27. Photo: Electric Umbrella/Huskie Athletics

By Ryan Flaherty

streak snapped

Women’s hockey team settles for split in Edmonton

Jan 27, 2024 | 7:28 PM

The Saskatchewan Huskies’ hopes of securing a top-two seed and a first round bye in the Canada West playoffs took a big hit on Saturday with a 2-0 loss to the Alberta Pandas in Edmonton, snapping their seven-game win streak.

After a thrilling shootout win one night earlier, the Huskies had a chance to pull within one point of the second-place Pandas with a regulation win in the second game of their weekend series, but Alberta had other plans, controlling much of the game and skating away with the victory to increase their lead over Saskatchewan to five points with four games left in the regular season.

The first period bore a striking resemblance to that of Friday’s game, with Alberta generating several early chances, but unlike a night earlier, when the Huskies were able to grab the lead against the run of play, they could not find any traction in the offensive zone. Camryn Drever made a handful of solid saves to keep the game scoreless through the first ten minutes but the Pandas would eventually break through at the 11:27 mark as Madison Willan converted a Cassidy Maplethorpe feed on the rush for the game’s opening goal.

In another eerie similarity to the previous game the Pandas enjoyed the first three power play chances of the game but failed to capitalize, keeping the score at 1-0 after one period. Alberta outshot Saskatchewan 13-6 in the frame.

The Pandas continued to press in the second and after drawing their fourth straight power play chance, they finally made good on the opportunity with Hayleigh Craig finishing off a three-way passing play to double the home team’s advantage. Craig’s goal was the first power play marker for either team in their four head-to-head matchups this season after they’d gone a combined 0-for-24. Alberta finished the game 1-for-6 on the advantage while the Huskies would go 0-for-2.

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The power play discrepancy and the nature of some of those calls, was a hot topic of discussion after the game. For a second straight night, it was a challenge for fans to figure out exactly what was a penalty and what was not.

Inconsistent officiating aside, however, the Huskies simply didn’t have their best game. Efforts to mount a third-period comeback fell short as the Dogs mustered just five shots on goal in a final frame that saw them forced to defend for long stretches as the Pandas played with the puck in the Saskatchewan zone.

Drever came to the bench for an extra attacker with 1:45 to play but the Huskies could not find a way to beat Pandas goaltender Misty Rey, who made 19 saves to record her second shutout of the season. Rey has only played five games this season but has backstopped both of Alberta’s wins over Saskatchewan.

The Huskies fall to 17-5-2 with the loss and will now need some help to catch the Pandas in the standings, but their focus now shifts to another big series coming up next weekend as they’ll close out the home half of their schedule with a pair of games against the Mount Royal Cougars, who are currently tied with Saskatchewan in third place. The teams split a pair of games in Calgary earlier this season.

Friday’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Merlis Belsher Place. Fans who can’t get to the rink can catch all the action on huskiefan.ca and the free HuskieFAN app.

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