Just Mackenzie; Dinos Communications
CALGARY – An early three-goal lead for the University of Manitoba Bisons helped fend off the late-surging Calgary Dinos in a 5-3 decision on Saturday afternoon, splitting the two-game set at Father David Bauer Arena.
Following a slow start on Friday, it was Manitoba who took the early lead in the first period with a goal less than 10 minutes in, off an odd-man rush, as Devon Skoleski collected his second marker of the weekend.
Manitoba struck again late in the period with the man advantage when second-year defenceman Lucas Skrumeda snuck one through a screened Matthew Greenfield to give the Bisons a 2-0 lead heading into the first break.
The Bisons continued to apply the pressure in the second frame, with a goal coming from Brett Stovin on another Manitoba powerplay to make it 3-0.
"I didn't think we were mentally sharp tonight, and we started taking sloppy penalties," said Dinos head coach Mark Howell when asked of his team's penalty kill troubles. "We didn't play with the same desperation as Friday."
The Dinos weren't going down without a fight. Riley Sheen scored two goals less than a minute apart to bring them back within one goal after two periods of play.
With play going back and forth to start the third period, Manitoba was able to regain a two-goal lead off the stick of Brett Brooks from a drop back pass. Calgary's James Shearer replied as he pounced on a loose puck five minutes later in a crowded crease to score his first goal in a Dinos jersey.
Despite heavy pressure from Calgary with an empty net, it was a stretch pass to Stovin that sealed the deal for his second of the game.
Goaltender Dasan Sydora stopped 32 of 35 shots to pick up the win, while Greenfield turned away 11 attempts.
The Dinos will have a break for the Thanksgiving weekend but will head to Saskatchewan for a two-game set against the Saskatchewan Huskies, starting Oct. 12. The Bisons will play a pair of non-conference games and then host the Alberta Golden Bears, Oct. 12-13.
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Photo by David Moll