Taran Kozun wrapped up a dream weekend between the pipes for the Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday night, picking up his second straight shutout and scoring an empty-net goal in the third as the Huskies swept the Calgary Dinos with a 3-0 win.
Down on one knee after making a save, the left-hand shooting Kozun wristed it the length of the ice with the Calgary net empty and hit it dead centre to put an exclamation mark on a weekend that gave the Huskies full control of second place – and the first-round playoff bye that comes with it – with just six games left in the regular season.
In the process Kozun became the first Huskie goalie and second in Canada West history to score a goal.
Kohl Bauml and Carson Stadnyk also scored for the Huskies (16-4-2), who picked up seven of a possible eight points against the Dinos this season.
The Huskies had another quick start on Saturday, with Bauml getting them on the board at 1:45 into the opening frame short-handed – which proved to be the winning goal. After the opening goal the Dinos had the better of the chances throughout the period but could not solve Kozun.
The Dinos continued to create excellent chances but it was the Huskies with another quick goal in the first two minutes of the second period. Stadnyk picked up his own rebound in front of the net and beat Brodan Salmond to increase the Huskies lead to 2-0. Kozun’s solid play kept the Dinos chasing the game.
Salmond made 20 saves on the 22 shots he saved.
The Dinos look to right the ship next weekend as they face first-place Alberta in a home-and-home series beginning Friday night in Edmonton, with the rematch Saturday, Jan. 25 at Father David Bauer Arena. Saskatchewan, meanwhile, will look to extend its five-game win streak when UBC visits Merlis Belsher Place next week.
