QUICKLY
The University of Regina's men's hockey team held a two-goal lead in the third, but couldn't hang on as the No. 4-ranked Alberta Golden Bears exploded for five unanswered goals and a 6-3 win on Saturday night at Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars were rewarded for a relentless forecheck midway through the first. Carson Whyte harassed an Alberta defenceman behind the net and a good pinch by Ayden Third resulted in the puck squeaking out to Whyte, who snapped a shot from the right circle to score his fifth of the season and give Regina a 1-0 lead.
• Alberta drew level four minutes later with the Cougars serving a minor for cross checking as Brett Hyland's power play goal brought the score to 1-1.
• The Cougars scored the only goal of the second period as Noah Wills notched his first Canada West marker late in the frame. Third was in on this goal as well, firing a shot from the left point which Wills tipped home to put Regina up 2-1 heading into the second intermission.
• The upset watch was put in full effect early in the third when the Cougars converted on their fourth power play of the game. Leyton Holoien rifled a pass down low to Matt Culling, whose redirection barely trickled over the line as he, an Alberta defenceman, and Golden Bears goalie Tyler Palmer all ended up in a heap in the crease.
• Alberta got closer with a Sean Tschigerl goal six minutes in, and Aidan de la Gorgendiere's goal just 2:22 later tied it up at 3-3. de la Gorgendiere scored what would turn out to be the game-winning goal with about seven minutes to go, and Justin Hall's shorthanded goal less than two minutes later gave the Golden Bears a two-goal lead. Hall capped the scoring with a second shorthanded goal late in the frame, putting it into the empty net to seal the win for Alberta.

NOTES

• Adam Evanoff stopped 39 saves for Regina as the Golden Bears held a 45-21 advantage in shots on net.
• Both teams scored one goal on the power play. Alberta was 1-for-5 with the man advantage, while Regina was 1-for-7.
• Third's multiple-point game was the first of his U SPORTS career.
• Alberta (18-4-2) is now four points clear of Saskatchewan for first in Canada West's East Division, but the Huskies have two games in hand on the Golden Bears.

NEXT UP
The Cougars (3-17-0) will now have four consecutive home games over the next two weekends, starting next Friday and Saturday against UBC. They'll also host Manitoba on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 in what will be their penultimate home weekend of the season.