Box Score

WINNIPEG - Having already clinched a home playoff series and top four seed in the Canada West standings, Manitoba (16-7-4) looked to complete the weekend sweep against visiting Lethbridge (7-15-5) on Saturday, February 8, 2014, and take some momentum with them going into the playoffs next weekend. Dée-Ana Marion stood tall for the Bisons all game long, and Amy Lee, Kayleigh Wiens, and Kyleigh Palmer each had two points as the Bisons outplayed the Lethbridge Pronghorns.

Manitoba's goals were split between Meagan Vestby, Lee, and Wiens, and Marion recorded 17 saves in the win. On the Lethbridge side, Jenna-Marie Durnin scored their only goal, and Shauntelle Williams recorded 21 saves in the loss. 

Michelle Pawluk looked to extend her outstanding Friday night performance during Saturday's game early on in the first period after using her quickness to get around a Pronghorns defender but was stood up at the net by Lethbridge goalie Shauntelle Williams. Williams continued to look good after stopping a series of second-chance attempts initiated by a point-blank shot from the slot. But the Bisons continued to generate more chances for themselves and were rewarded after Meagan Vestby squeaked a puck past Williams after an initial shot from the point by Pawluk at 16:11 in the first. The Bisons tried to extend their lead after spending most of their first power play of the game in the Lethbridge zone, but were unable to capitalize.

Manitoba continued to exploit the rebounds being given up by Lethbridge after fifth-year captain Amy Lee chipped in the puck in the middle of a crowded Pronghorns crease at 5:48 in the second frame. Defensively, the Bisons kept the Lethbridge attack contained for most of the second period, giving up only three shots in the frame, even while on the penalty kill.

Lethbridge scored their first goal of the weekend 32 seconds into the third period after Pronghorns captain Jenna-Marie Durnin tapped a loose puck into a wide open Bisons net. Lethbridge continued to put the pressure on Manitoba, outshooting the Bisons eight shots to none until Manitoba scored on their first shot of the period. Kayleigh Wiens backhanded the puck into the net after the Bisons disrupted Lethbridge's breakout to catch the defense out of position. Things started to get chippy once again on both sides of the puck late in the game, and Manitoba found themselves with a two-man advantage in the closing minute, but at this point, the game was in the books.

Manitoba will play their Canada West quarterfinal matchup next weekend at 3 p.m. CT on Friday, February 14 2014 at the Wayne Fleming Arena (U of Manitoba campus).