The University of Manitoba Bisons Men’s hockey played a 2 game weekend series versus the top ranked University of Calgary Dinos. —
Game 1 Friday Night —
Manitoba Battles No. 1 Calgary But Lose 5-4 —
The No. 1-ranked University of Calgary Dinos did all their scoring in the first period as they held on to beat the University of Manitoba Bisons 5-4 on Friday, January 17 night at the Father David Bauer Arena.
Photo by Shawn Coates
Back in October, Manitoba was the first team to truly test the Dinos on their early season run through the conference. On Friday night, the Bisons became the first team to test Calgary on home ice as the road team came storming back before falling just short. Chris Collins’ second goal of the game with mere seconds left in the first period stood as the game winning goal.
The win improves the Dinos’ record to 18-0-1 while the Bisons fall to 9-11-1. These two teams will go head-to-head once again tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at the Father David Bauer Arena.
In the first period Calgary was able to jump out to an impressive 5-0 advantage, but it wouldn’t have been possible without some strong goaltending by Kris Lazaruk. On the opening shift of the game, the Edmonton native was forced to turn aside a breakaway from Ian Duval as well as the rebound attempt by Aaron Lewadniuk. Lazaruk made six saves in the first period and finished the night with 27 in total.
Calgary’s scoring brigade got started at the 3:13 mark. Kevin King banged in a loose puck in front of the blue paint for his third goal in as many games. The goal also gave King a five-game point streak.
The flood gates opened in the second half of the first frame as the Dinos grabbed a commanding lead. Collins netted two in the stanza to extend his conference-lead in goals to 16; while Spencer Edwards and Walker Wintoneak each potted singles under a minute apart on the power play.
At the 7:28 mark of the second period, Manitoba got on the scoreboard. Set-up in front of the net, Lewadniuk scored his 11th of the campaign with assists going to Duval and Jesse Paradis.
The Bisons had more chances to fill the net in the second with three power play opportunities. The away team outshot Calgary 12-2 in the frame but was unable to solve Lazaruk.
Manitoba continued to chip away at Calgary’s lead in the third period, bringing them to the brink. Duval netted two power play goals along with another by Taylor Dickin as the score read 5-4 with under five minutes to go.
The visitors pulled their goaltender in the final minute but could not find another goal as the buzzer went to end the game.
Manitoba outshot Calgary in the game 31-22. The Dinos were 2-7 on the power play, while the Bisons went 3-7.
Game 2 Saturday Night —
Manitoba Bisons Falls 4-3 In Double Overtime
With a flair for the dramatics, the No. 1 University of Calgary Dinos overcame a late third-period deficit to knock-off the University of Manitoba Bisons 4-3 in double overtime on Saturday, January 18 night at the Father David Bauer Arena in men’s hockey.
With just over a minute to play in the third period, it looked like the Dinos were on their way to their first regulation loss of the season. As they have all season though, Calgary’s top line came through with the tying goal from Taylor Stefishen and eventual game-winner in the fifth period by Chris Collins.
The victory gives the Dinos a 19-0-1 record and clinches them a first round bye in the Canada West post season. The overtime setback is the second of the season for Manitoba versus Calgary and puts them at a record of 9-10-3.
In a first period that could have gone either way, the Bisons took a 1-0 lead. While a scrum ensued in front of Calgary netminder Jacob DeSerres, Luke Cain was able to get a piece of the puck before it crossed the line. The goal was Cain’s fifth of the season.
While Calgary put together some solid pressure during the opening 20 minutes, the team’s offence was hindered by penalties. The Dinos took three minor penalties during the first period, including one in the offensive zone, as they struggled to contain the speed of the Bisons.
After three straight power plays, Manitoba experienced their own penalty trouble in the second period. The Dinos made the Bisons pay for their indiscipline play as they managed to score twice on four straight calls against the away team.
Cory Pritz got it started for Calgary at the 7:29 mark of the middle frame as he fired a slap shot past Joe Caligiuri for his sixth tally of the year, knotting the score at one apiece.
On the man advantage again at the 11:57 mark, the Dinos took their first lead of the contest. Working in the slot with linemates Ryan Harrison and Kevin King, Walker Wintoneak scooped up a rebound and capitalized for his 12th goal of the campaign.
Following the trend, Manitoba responded on the power play at 16:24. Brendan Rowinski feed a saucer pass up to Jesse Paradis who streaked in and tucked a shot past DeSerres, tying the game at two. The goal was Paradis’ eighth of the year and gave the Bisons their fourth power play goal of the weekend.
Halfway through the third period it appeared as though the Dinos had tied the game. The equalizer was disallowed through, much to the chagrin of the Calgary bench.
Calgary continued to fight and would be rewarded in the final minute. With DeSerres on the bench for an extra attacker, Taylor Stefishen popped in Pritz rebound for his fourth of the year with 1:19 to go.
The game would go into overtime and was completed with eight seconds left in the second extra session. Collecting a pass from Stefishen, Chris Collins cut across from left to right and beat Caligiuri for the game winning goal.
Calgary outshot Manitoba in the game 33-22. The Dinos were 2-5 on the power play, while the Bisons went 1-5.
Next weekend the Dinos will head to the west coast where they will take on the UBC Thunderbirds in a two-game set from Jan. 24-25.
Manitoba will have a bye-week next weekend and will return to action on Jan. 31 as they begin a two-game set at home versus the Regina Cougars.
photos by Shawn Coates @shawncoates
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