Box Score
LETHBRIDGE – After killing off two overtime penalties, the Manitoba Bisons scored their first power-play goal of the weekend to complete the weekend sweep of the Lethbridge Pronghorns with a 3-2 win in overtime.
Natasha Kostenko corralled a loose rebound at the side of the net and chipped a shot over Pronghorns goaltender Alicia Anderson for the winner.
Jordyn Zacharias and Mekaela Fisher scored the other Bison goals, while Maddison Toppe and Tricia Van Vaerenbergh replied for the Pronghorns.
The win improves the Bisons' conference leading record to 17-5-3-2 and are four points ahead of the Alberta Pandas prior to the Pandas result today versus the Saskatchewan Huskies. The Pronghorns record moves to 3-17-2-4.
Bison goaltender Rachel Dyck picked up her second win of the weekend, stopping 24 shots, while Alicia Anderson made 34 saves in the loss.
Bison leading scorer Jordyn Zacharias continued to be a Pronghorn killer this season, opening the scoring just past the eight minute mark. Breaking in on a partial break, Zacharias beat Anderson with a deke to her right and slid the puck into the yawning cage.
Last night, Zacharias assisted on all three Bison goals and earlier this season in Winnipeg, she scored the shootout winner in a 1-0 win and both goals in a 2-1 in the second game.
After going three full games without a goal, the Pronghorns finally hit the scoreboard to tie the game at one. While on the power-play, Maddison Toppe jammed home a rebound for her second goal of the season.
Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the second period but the conference leading Bisons dominated the shot count 11-4 and held a 23 to 12 advantage through forty minutes.
On their fifth power-play of the game, the Pronghorns picked up a second such goal of the game to take their first lead of the game. Tricia Van Vaerenbergh's one-timer beat Bison goaltender Rachel Dyck low blocker side.
After pushing the pace, looking for the equalizer, the Bisons tied the game with just under five minutes to play. Breaking in on a two-on-one, Mekaela Fisher took a feed and beat Anderson top glove for her second of the season.
Toppe had a glorious chance to regain with Pronghorns lead only minutes later, beating Bison defenders to the middle for a breakaway but Dyck made her best save of the game to keep the game level.
Starting the overtime with a four-on-three power play, the Pronghorns looked for their third power-play marker of the game but despite registering five shots on goal, they were unable to find the winner.
A penalty late in the first overtime gave the Pronghorns another chance in the second overtime to end the game but again, they had zone possession but were unable to beat Dyck.
Shortly after the Bison penalty expired, the Pronghorns took a penalty, setting up Kostenko's game winning goal.
The Pronghorns will wrap up their season next weekend on the road traveling to Regina to face the Regina Cougars. The Bisons will look to solidify their top seed, hosting the Calgary Dinos in Winnipeg.
