Box Score WINNIPEG – Coming off a disappoint loss, this afternoon's game was virtually a must win situation, but the Lethbridge Pronghorns put their playoff hopes on life support following a 7-3 setback at the hands of the Manitoba Bisons..
With the pair of losses this weekend and Calgary's sweep of the Regina Cougars, the Pronghorns trail the Dinos by four points with two games to play. For the Pronghorns to make the post-season, they will have to sweep the Regina Cougars and hope the Bisons can do the same to the Calgary Dinos.
The 'Horns record falls to 8-15-3 on the season, while the Bisons have now won five games in a row and sit at 16-8-2.
Though the third period is where the Bisons sealed their win, it was the second period that changed the pace of the game for the home team.
In the middle frame, a powerful Bisons offence led to three goals scored by home team in 2:40 span.
The first was by Bisons assistant captain Michael St. Croix, who was able to tuck it home past Lethbridge goalie Garret Hughson, after a quick pass from Zach Franko. This tied the teams at a 2-2 score.
Soon after, Bisons forward Liam Bilton was able to score an unassisted goal after firing the puck which has chipped off the stick of Pronghorns Justin Valentino, glove-side at the top of the net.
Seconds later, Bisons went to the power play after a high-sticking call was handed to the Pronghorns. It was Bisons forward Quintin Lisoway who found the visitors' net early into the power play, assisted by Bresciani and Bisons forward Remi Laurencelle.
The offensive Bisons play led to a Pronghorns goalie switch, where Ty Edmonds took the place of Hughson in net.
Despite the offsetting minors call that led to two minutes of 4-on-4 play for the teams, no more goals were scored in the second period and the Herd led 4-2 and took control of the game and the momentum.
In the third, Edmonds had no chance to react after a quick goal scored by St. Croix, assisted by teammates Franko and assistant captain Channing Bresciani.
Next it was Lethbridge's turn to score, as Pronghorns defenseman Dallas Valentine was able to snipe a shot past Spriggs after a huge in-front-of-the-net scramble in the Bison's end.
Minutes later, there was an easy redirect on the puck that helped Bisons forward Brad Bowles score, assisted by teammates St. Croix and Franko. The home team increased the lead to 6-3.
It was in the dying seconds of the game, where St. Croix sniped one last shot past net to net his hat-trick, propelling the Herd's score to a 7-3 final.
Early in the first, Pronghorns forward Sam McKenchie had a great opportunity in front of the net and fired the puck, but Spriggs was able to get his shoulder on it and push it wide of the net.
Minutes later, Bisons St. Croix made a huge check in the neutral zone, with the pace of play from both teams picking up greatly from there.
It was the Manitoba who scored first, after Laurencelle was able to weave his way around Lethbridge defenseman at the blue line and fire a shot at the net, assisted by teammates Justin Augert and Adam Henry.
Midway through the first, a turnover in Bisons territory led to a fantastic effort by Pronghorns left-wing Ryon Moser, who was able to pass it to teammate Artsiom Kalashnikov for the goal.
Soon after, Lethbridge struck again. Assisted by teammate Mitchell Maxwell, it was Pronghorns McKenchie who scored the goal that moved the Pronghorns into a 2-1 lead headed into the second period.
The Bisons now head to Alberta next weekend (Feb. 9-10) to play the Calgary Dinos, while the Lethbridge Pronghorns head home to play the Regina Cougars.
