Box Score WINNIPEG - The unranked Manitoba Bisons (5-3-1), sporting new vibrant white and gold jerseys, earned a point in their fifth consecutive game by downing the winless and unranked Lethbridge Pronghorns (0-8-1) 4-1 Friday night at Max Bell Centre on the campus of the University of Manitoba.
 
Paced by three-point performances from Ian Duval (1G, 2A) and Tyler Dittmer (3A), a two-goal outburst by Blair Macaulay and a 20 save effort by backstop Jesse Deckert, the Bisons never trailed in the contest and looked dominant at both ends of the rink.

The Bisons out shot the visiting Pronghorns 35-21.

After roughly ten minutes of back-and-forth hockey, Bisons fourth-year forward Ian Duval scored the game’s opening goal at 8:50. The Winnipeg native made no mistake on a laser of a wrist shot past Lethbridge goalie Damien Ketlo. Fifth-year forward Tyler Dittmer chipped in with an assist on Duval’s second goal of the young season.

Ketlo made 29 saves in the loss.

The referee was busy doling out penalties in the period, as five were handed out during the frame (four assessed to Lethbridge, one to Manitoba). The Bisons, however, went scoreless on all four occasions. 

Other than Duval’s marker, the first period was a rather quiet one. Manitoba led in shots by a margin of 12 to 5.

Lethbridge head coach Greg Gatto must have said something inspiring in his intermission speech to his team, because the Pronghorns came out for the second period looking to even things up.

They did just that.
 
At 1:32, rookie blueliner Hayden Rintoul lit the lamp with this third goal of the season, tying things up at one apiece. Rintoul was assisted by fellow rookie defenceman David McMullen and forward Daniel Iwanski.

The Bisons, however, didn’t let Lethbridge relish in its game-tying goal glory for long.

Manitoba captain Dane Crowley answered right back with a powerplay goal at 5:03, igniting the large Max Bell Centre crowd. Crowley’s third of the year was assisted by sophomore blueliner Travis Bobbee and third-year forward Del Cowan.

The goal put Manitoba ahead 2-1.

At 4:09, Manitoba padded its lead with an easy tap-in by fourth-year forward Blair Macaulay. Macaulay’s go ahead marker signaled his fourth goal of the Canada West season. Assisting on the play was Dittmer and Duval. 

The referee was again busy with his whistle in the second period. One of the more notable penalties was levied upon Macaulay – just seconds after his go ahead goal. The former Tri City American was assessed a 10-minute misconduct penalty for crosschecking a Lethbridge player in the face.

With a 3:34 left in the third, Manitoba lit the lamp with its second powerplay goal. Macaulay made no mistake on his second marker of the night. Dittmer and Duval once again earned their way onto the scoresheet with assists. 

For a full recap of stats, visit http://www.leaguestat.com/canadawest/mens/en/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1205.

The two teams will do battle again tomorrow night at Max Bell Centre. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. CST