Box Score

Lethbridge – After a tough loss, Friday night, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns were looking to bounce back and split the weekend series against the visiting Bisons but two early power play goals combined with the tenacity of Manitoba’s offensive play led the visiting team to a dominating 5-1 victory, completing a two-game weekend road sweep.


After his impressive relief performance in last night’s match-up, Dylan Tait got the start for Lethbridge, and turned aside 54 shots while Bison’s Jesse Deckert stopped all but one of the shots he faced.
 
Del Cowan, Darren Bestland, and Brenden Rowinski earned individual markers for Manitoba while Tyler Dittmer netted two on the night.  Cass Mappin scored the lone goal for Lethbridge.
 
Rowinski opened the scoring for Manitoba at 13:35, netting an early marker with the help of Darren Bestland and Tyler Feakes.
 
Tait was tested early and tested often, facing a total of 59 shots on the night. Despite stonewalling solid efforts by Matthew Lowry and Del Cowan, he was unable to stop Bestland’s quick shot, on the power play, that found the back of the net at 19:11, giving the Bisons a 2-0 lead headed into the first break.
 
With Tait outstretched and out of position, Bison’s Dittmer capitalized on a golden opportunity. In perfect position beside the net, he lifted the puck into the open net, widening his team’s lead to three.
 
Working with a man advantage, the Bisons capitalized on yet another great scoring chance to bring the tally to 4-0. Dittmer, again beside the net, was in prime position to gobble up a loose rebound and hammer home his second marker of the night for Manitoba.
 
Cowan added a second power play goal for the Bisons, from James Henry, at 16:00.

Mappin netted his seventh of the season to put the home team on the board with a little over four minutes into the third period, spoiling Deckert’s hopes for a shut-out.

With the loss the 'Horns fall to 1-21-2, while with the sweep the Bisons move to 15-5-4 and sit second in the conference.

Next up for the Pronghorns will be a two game home and home series against Mount Royal University. Game one goes next Friday, February 1^st, at the Flames Community Arena in Calgary. The Bisons will return to Winnipeg where they play host to the UBC Thunderbirds at Max Bell Arena. Both games are scheduled to start at 7pm and will be broadcast on www.canadawest.tv