WINNIPEG, Man. - Captain Kylie Lesuk scored with 23 seconds left in the third period, and added the game-winner in the final minute of three-on-three overtime, pushing the Manitoba Bisons past the Saskatchewan Huskies 3-2 for a series split at Wayne Fleming Arena on Saturday.  

Manitoba's 11th win surged them ahead of Regina for second in Canada West's East Division, with 24 points. They travel to face MacEwan on the road next weekend, while Saskatchewan will play Alberta. 

It's the third time this season that the Bisons have won a game in overtime, and the second time they've scored an equalizer with less than a minute to play. 

Two of those come-from-behind wins have come against Saskatchewan, with an identical score on the road on November 1 against the Green Dogs. 

Manitoba also came from behind to defeat Mount Royal 3-2 on November 16, with Lesuk providing the primary assist in OT, stealing the puck at the face-off dot and finding Dana Goertzen for the victory. 

On Saturday, the role was reversed, as Goertzen, celebrating her birthday, dished a back-hand pass to Lesuk, who also went back-hand from in close to beat Colby Wilson. 

Manitoba had been the aggressors all game, showing exceptional puck control and vision in the offensive zone. 

Wilson kept her team in the game with a career-high 48 saves, but the hockey gods shined on the hosts, with Lesuk's shot deflecting off of defender Brooklyn Stevely's stick (which fell into the crease) and in to tie the contest, leading to a dominant showing in the extra session from Manitoba. 

In three-on-three overtime, the Herd controlled possession, winning the game on an exceptional feed into the crease from leading scorer Aimee Patrick to Lesuk. The captain had rushed in on a line change, getting her stick on the biscuit with perfect timing for the win. 
 
The goal-scoring started early for the Bisons, as forward Camryn Gillis scored her second of the season from the blue line. The Bisons gave little time for the Huskies to set up, as Gillis shot the puck five-hole seconds after Manitoba won the biscuit off the draw. 

Saskatchewan responded halfway through the period. 

Julianna Herman threw the puck on net and teammate Avery Gottselig deflected it in, leaving little time for the Bisons goaltender Emily Shippam to react. 

Manitoba found their groove once more in the closing minutes of the first, with sustained offensive pressure.

In the dying seconds, a loose puck in front of the Saskatchewan net resulted in a pile-up of Bisons determined to push the puck over the line, but Manitoba were unable to capitalize.

Manitoba continued their puck possession early in the second period, hemming the Huskies in their end for almost two minutes. 

Their best chance came when forward Sadie Keller put two shots on net, forcing Wilson to react just in time to push the puck away. It bounced to Gillis with much of the net open, but the puck careened just wide.  

Manitoba significantly outshot Saskatchewan in the second, 13-3. But Wilson shut the door every time, making big stops to keep it equal going into the third. 

The action-filled third period started early, as the Huskies converted off a power play. 

Mirroring their first goal, defenceman Brooklyn Stevely threw the puck on net and Bronwyn Boucher deflected it in, scoring on the visitor's first shot of the period. 

It seemed as if the third period would go the way the third went the previous night, as Wilson made save after save. 

But in the final minute, the Bisons pulled the goalie and headed into a timeout. 

This proved fruitful as with 22 seconds left in the third, Lesuk netted the equalizer. The goal was aided by Gillis' ability to hold the line, finding defenceman Rachel Gottfried, who then dished the puck to Goertzen near the half wall, and then to the captain. 

Overtime was all Manitoba, who showed exceptional puck control. 

Sadie Keller and Patrick had multiple chances, flashing their strength with the puck on their stick, while defenceman Camille Enns also had a break-away opportunity, with Lesuk coming off the bench on a line change shortly after for the winner.