Winnipeg - In a late season women’s hockey matchup filled with real playoff implications, the fifth place Manitoba Bisons were looking to hold on to their spot as a playoff team with a win against the eighth place Lethbridge Pronghorns on Friday January 25 at the Max Bell Arena. 

Unfortunately for the home team, the back and forth battle ended in disappointment as Lethbridge’s Amy Van Buskirk sent a rocket from the point during a four on three powerplay, finding the back of the net, and winning the game for Lethbridge.

With the loss, the Bisons fall to 9-10-4, where the Pronghorns move up to 7-13-2, and are now within striking distance of the Canada West playoff picture. 

The first period was definitely a defensive showcase with both teams providing solid defensive zone coverage, allowing very little offensive chances on either side of the ice. The exception to this first period theme came at an unlikely time for the Bisons, as they put on perhaps their best offensive pressure while playing short handed.

With just under five minutes left in the first period it was Kyleigh Palmer who fooled goaltender Crystal Patterson on a gorgeous deke after stealing the puck from a defenseman and streaking in all alone on the penalty kill. The goal was redemption for Palmer and fellow penalty killer Amy Lee who were robbed on a two-on-one mere seconds before solving the otherwise solid Patterson.

The second period saw similar play as the first, however this time roles were reversed. The Pronghorns put their first on the board midway through the second after a Manitoba turnover sent Lethbridge forward Jocelyn Sabourin all alone where she just squeaked wrister past the shoulder of Bisons goaltender Dée-Ana Marion, tying the game up at one.

The Bisons tried at the end of the period to pull ahead going into intermission as it was again Palmer who broke in alone against Patterson. However it was Patterson’s turn for redemption as she robbed Palmer with a beautiful kick save to end the period still at a draw.

The third period started off with a bang as the Pronghorns second goal of the game saw Chelsea Minor fire a wrist shot glove side on Marion that picked a corner and found its way through a screen. The Bisons answered with huge pressure in the offensive zone for a high majority of the third, and just when it looked like Manitoba simply couldn’t beat Patterson, Nellie Minshull found the puck in the slot and went top shelf to tie things up with 1:10 left in the third period. Minshull’s goal forced the game into overtime, where the Bisons would take a costly penalty and miss out on the two points. 

Despite the loss, Manitoba heavily outshot Lethbridge 34 to 19.  This isn’t the last these two teams have seen of each other though, as they face off again on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the Max Bell Arena.