“It was just little details and, in playoff-type hockey, that’s the difference between winning and losing.”

U of S Huskies’ goalie Roddy Ross made 29 saves in Canada West men’s hockey action against the Mount Royal University Cougars at Merlis Belsher Place. Photo by Michelle Berg /Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Cougars 3, Huskies 2

This was playoff-type hockey.

Tight-checking. Physical. Not much for scoring.

In what could be a preview of upcoming Canada West men’s hockey quarter-final action, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and Mount Royal University Cougars slugged it out for 60 minutes Friday at Merlis Belsher Place.

In the end, Mount Royal came out on top with a hard-fought 3-2 victory to improve their record to 18-5-4. Saskatchewan, which can finish no better than fifth in the conference standings, slipped to 14-9-4.

The same two teams will meet again Saturday afternoon, at 5 p.m., to close out the regular season. It will be the Huskies’ final home game, too, as they will hit the road for the playoffs.

“Their big guys (Nolan Yaremko, Riley Sawchuk and Connor Bouchard) didn’t get a point but their depth guys found ways to score,” said U of S head coach Brandin Cote.

“We found a way to stay in it. I didn’t like the goal in the end, not necessarily Roddy (Huskies goalie Roddy Ross). Roddy played really good and gave us a chance. It was just little details and, in playoff-type hockey, that’s the difference between winning and losing, so I thought we waited a little bit at times. It was back and forth at times. As we got going, we carried some of the play but they just got one more than we did.”

Saskatchewan welcomed a healthy line-up for the very first time this season, but it was evident that some chemistry wasn’t quite there yet due to a lack of continuity.

“For sure, the good thing is we have the depth (now) and now we get ready and go (Saturday),” said Cote. “That’s the way it’s going to be. We have one more to finish up the regular season on a good note. Some positives for sure tonight. Some things we have to shore up and clean up for tomorrow and see where it takes us.”

Moe Hakim, former Saskatoon Blade Blake Stevenson and former Prince Albert Raider Sheldon Moe scored for the Cougars, who took a 1-0 lead in the second period after a scoreless opening frame.

Jaxan Kaluski and Vince Loschiavo, who scored with 42 seconds left after Ross was pulled for an extra attacker, replied for Saskatchewan, which got outshot 32-25.

Ross made 29 saves for the Huskies. Shane Farkas had 23 stops for the Cougars.

“They had some point-blankers and Roddy made some good saves, for sure,” said Cote.

“The only time we get in trouble with those guys is when we turn the puck over. They’re a quick transition team, especially those guys who make you pay … We ran out of time. They played better than we did tonight, for sure, if you look over the course of 60 minutes. We’ll respond (Saturday) and see where it goes.”

Mount Royal was 0-for-5 on the power play. Saskatchewan went 0-for-2.

DOG TALES: Three stars were 1) Moe, 2) Hakim and 3) Huskies D-man Rhett Rhinehart … Attendance was 1,405 … Chantz Petruic had a penalty shot in the third period but misfired and missed the net.

dzary@postmedia.com