MHKY | Golden Bears Extend Series

SASKATOON – Tyler Preziuso scored twice, to go along with 28 saves from sophomore Ethan Kruger, as the Golden Bears staved off elimination with a 3-2 win over Saskatchewan in Game 2 of their Canada West quarter-final series.

Trailing by one after 40, Preziuso scored both the game-tying and game-winning goals, forcing a winner take all Game 3 on Sunday night.

“That was Prez's best game of the year. He was fantastic tonight,” said Bears head coach Ian Herbers. “He's a game changer. When he skates and plays hard and plays physical. He played hard on both ends sides of the puck.”

14 of Kruger’s 28 saves came in the third period, with Saskatchewan trailing for 12 of the 20 minutes. The former Brandon Wheat King made a pair of tremendous saves late, stopping Raphael Pelletier and Chantz Petruic late, with his diving save on Petruic a game-stopper.

“That's the way he's been for us ever since he's been here. Just calm and composed,” said Herbers of Kruger’s play. “He makes the big save. He doesn't make anything look difficult. The guys feed off that composure that he plays within the net. Nothing rattles him.”

Connor McClennon also scored for Alberta in their Game 2 win.

Justin Ball and Petruic scored for Huskies, with both of their goals coming in a furious first period. Starter Jordan Kooy made 15 saves on 16 shots in the opening frame, but was unable to return to the ice for the second. Game 1 winner Roddy Ross made 17 saves on 19 shots over the final 40 minutes in the loss.

“We knew Alberta was going to come out strong tonight. Too bad we couldn’t find a way to get one at the end,” said Huskies bench boss Brandin Cote. “We deserved to win yesterday, and they deserved to win tonight. They won more battles, we made some inopportune turnovers. It was a good playoff hockey game, and too bad we didn’t come out on top.”

The hosts opened the scoring just 88 seconds in, as Ball beat Kruger for his second of the series, tapping in a rebound created off a Liam Keeler point shot.

McClennon tied the game up quickly, beating an out-of-poition Kooy just over one minute later. The first-year Bear beat Kooy short-side off a cross-ice dish from Jakin Smallwood.

Firing only eight shots on net in the first, the Huskies did, however, capitalize on their two scoring chances. Petruic beat Kruger with a one-timer on the powerplay midway through the frame.

Preziuso tied the game for Alberta early in the second on a man advantage, beating Ross off a feed from behind the net from Justin Hall. After firing just 21 shots on net in Game 1, Alberta topped that mark 27 minutes into Game 2.

Prezusio broke the 2-2 deadlock midway through the third, beating Ross with a spinning shot from the slot.

Along with the pair of outstanding Kruger saves late, the Bears blocked a plethora of Huskie shots with their goalie pulled.

Game 3 is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT at Merlis Belsher Place on Sunday night.