EDMONTON - It took 60 minutes of regulation and 8 minutes of overtime before Jordyn Holmes scored to decide this close 2-1 contest in favour of the Saskatchewan Huskies over the Alberta Pandas.

The Huskie (8-5-2) win maintains their fourth place in the Canada West standings, the same for the fifth place Pandas (7-4-2). However, the Pandas are still fourth in points percentage.

The game was dominated by good goaltending and a relentless Saskatchewan forecheck. Halle Oswald continued her early season success, stopping 29 of 31 Huskie shots. Camryn Drever pushed 19 of 20 Alberta shots wide.

Natalie Kieser potted her eighth of the year for the Pandas, tying the league lead in scoring in the process.

The first period was even-matched as both teams warmed up their legs from the winter break. The play went back and forth and both goalies, Oswald and Drever, played well and had to stop some high quality chances.

The Pandas broke through with 50 seconds to go in the frame, as Kieser potted home a point-blank chance off of a Megan Wilson shot from the slot that Drever deflected.

The Huskies shot out of the intermission firing, controlling play and shots for the majority of the period. While they were in firm control, they could not find an answer to Oswald's game, as she turned aside all nine Saskatchewan shots, some from very dangerous positions.

The third period was worth the price of admission alone. Back-and-forth aggressive forechecking led to a flurry of activity to watch.

However, it was the Huskies again who controlled much of the period, and they finally found their breakthrough in the form of a dump-in from Kelsey Hall that knuckled it's way past the otherwise strong Oswald. The Pandas were outshot in the frame 7-3.

The Huskies nearly won the game with 20 seconds to go in the game, when a flurry of Huskie activity nearly produced a goal.

The game went to overtime, where the four-on-four action seemed to re-energize the Pandas, outshooting the Huskies 4-1. There were several quality scoring chances, but Drever held her post as the game headed into an additional, three-on-three overtime frame.

The Huskies relentless forecheck finally put an end to the game, as a Brown slapshot found the top corner past a sprawling Oswald.

The Huskies and Pandas return to action tomorrow at Clare Drake at 2 PM.