WINNIPEG — Though their chances at a first-round bye took a hit out in Regina, the Manitoba Bisons did their part to make the race interesting this weekend at Wayne Fleming Arena.
A 2-1 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies hurdles Bisons women's hockey into second place in Canada West — for the time being. The top two teams earn a bye through to the semi-final.
Manitoba sits at 26 points, while UBC (24 points) and Alberta (22 points) have three games in hand. The Huskies finish the season just behind Manitoba with 24 points.
After a 3-0 shutout on Friday, this Saturday game saw the Bisons come out with a lot of confidence.
The team skated well in the first period and generated a number of chances on Huskies goaltender Camryn Drever. The hosts finally broke through with five minutes left in the period, as first-year Kylie Lesuk made a quick 1-on-1 move into the middle, roofing a shot over Drever.
Saskatchewan would regroup, though. Their penalty kill survived a Bailee Bourassa minor late in the second period and they began to push the tempo, testing Bisons rookie net-minder Kimmy Davidson with some transition play.
It was Manitoba who would get good fortune first, though, as a scramble play in front of the net in the dying seconds of the period resulted in a Julia Bird goal — her second of the weekend.
The third was all Huskies. Less than five minutes in, the visitors got on the board as Sophie Lalor finished a passing play for her fifth of the season. Saskatchewan continued to push for the game-tying marker, getting two powerplay opportunities at the 6- and 15-minute mark. In the last few seconds, the Huskies put three shots on net with eight bodies in the Manitoba crease. Bisons fifth-year Lauren Warkentin made the last block, sealing the victory for the Bisons.
Before the game, Manitoba celebrated the careers of their graduating players — Warkentin, defenceman Brielle Dacquay-Neveux and forward Madison Cole.
Both teams will now look ahead to the Canada West playoffs, which began February 25-27 with the quarter-final round.
