WINNIPEG - It was a Friday night where the Bisons women’s hockey team came out aggressive but came up empty, as they continue to fight for their playoff lives with the season winding down. The unranked Manitoba Bisons (10-6-3) lost to the Lethbridge Pronghorns (12-7-2) 1-0 at the Max Bell Centre.

With the win, the 'Horns move three points ahead of the Bisons for the fourth and final playoff spot in Canada West. The Bisons still have two games in hand on the 'Horns.

Boxscore

The story of the night was Lethbridge goaltender Crystal Patterson, who stopped an astounding 30 shots on her way to a shutout. It was Patterson's league leading sixth shutout of the season, which ties her for third on the Canada West all-time for shutouts in a season. The Pronghorns lone goal was scored by first-year forward Sadie Lenstra just two minutes into the second period.

With the loss, the Bisons are now three back of Lethbridge for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Canada West conference. These two teams split a back-to-back in Lethbridge in November. The loss also snapped a five-game home conference winning streak.

“We didn’t play a full 60 minutes tonight,” said Manitoba Bisons head coach Jon Rempel. “Often times, opposing teams get in a comfort zone when you don’t start playing until halfway through the game. Their goaltender was very good tonight, as we expected she would be.”

The Bisons, slow to start as they were, won the battle in most categories Friday night, only committing two penalties, compared to Lethbridge’s five. They were unable to capitalize though, especially in the second period when back-to-back power plays resulted in a number of good opportunities, and great stops by Patterson.

On a last-ditch effort with five minutes to go, Manitoba was given their best opportunity to score by second-year forward Maggie Litchfield-Medd, who lost control of the puck at the last minute on a breakaway, coming up empty - as was the story of the Bisons night.

When asked about possible adjustments for Saturday night’s rematch, Rempel was quick and to the point.

“We’d like to score a goal.”

The Bisons women’s hockey team will play the second of a back-to-back against Lethbridge Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the Max Bell Centre.