SASKATOON, Sask. – Playing a rare Sunday night (Feb. 1) game following a travel-related postponement, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies secured a point but ultimately fell to the Regina Cougars 3-2 in a shootout following a tightly-contested U-Prairie Challenge contest at Merlis Belsher Place.

The Huskies could not have asked for a better start, opening the scoring on their first rush of the evening just 33 seconds into the game. Paris Oleksyn finished a two-on-one, taking the feed from Jayde Cadieux before going glove-side on Regina goaltender Amy Swayze for her third of the season. 

For Cadieux, the assist marked her fifth point in the last four games, extending the longest point streak of her career.

Regina would push back late in the frame, tallying their first goal with just over four minutes remaining. A point shot from Shaylee Scraba worked its way toward the crease, leaving Huskie netminder Colby Wilson with a difficult play to make as a Cougar skated through the crease.

The visitors struck again in the dying seconds of the opening period, taking a 2-1 lead into the break thanks to Makena Kushniruk. 

Saskatchewan responded with a strong second period, controlling much of the frame and out-shooting the Cougars 18-6. Their persistence paid off midway through the frame when Kahlen Wisener gained the offensive zone before firing a shot through a Cougar's skates, beating Swayze blocker-side. The goal marked Wisener's second in as many games and pulled the Huskies even at 2-2 heading into the third.

The third period saw neither team able to establish momentum, with few clean looks at either end of the ice. 

Needing overtime to decide things, both the Huskies and Cougars generated high-danger chances, but the two goaltenders continued to hold firm, sending the contest to a shoot.

In the shootout, Saskatchewan and Regina remained even through three rounds with one good attempt apiece. The Cougars eventually secured the win in the sixth round after a backhand attempt from Trinity Grove squeaked by Wilson, awarding Regina the extra point.

The Huskies will head to Calgary next to take on the Dinos in a crucial weekend series. Leading the Manitoba Bisons by a single point for third-place in Canada West's East Division, the Dogs will need every point they can get to keep their postseason hopes alive. Regina meanwhile will return home to host the Bisons.