Eoin Colquhoun, Pronghorn Athletics
LETHBRIDGE – Breaking open a scoreless game with two goals in a just over three minute span, the Manitoba Bisons pushed past the Lethbridge Pronghorns, 3-0 in Canada West women's hockey action Friday night.
With the win, the Bisons improve to 16-5-2-1 and move two points ahead of the Alberta Pandas for top spot in the Canada West standings after the Pandas only earned two points with a shootout win over the Saskatchewan Huskies.
The loss is the Pronghorns 10th in a row and third in a row where they were shutout and fall to 3-16-2-3. With Calgary Dinos overtime win over the Regina Cougars tonight in Calgary the Pronghorns have been officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Leading the conference in goal scoring this season, the Bisons received goals from three unlikely sources tonight, as Emilie Masse and Jenai Buchanan each scored their first of the season and Nicole Carswell picked up her second of the season. Jordyn Zacharias picked up three assists and leads the Bisons this season with 18 points.
Like she has done all season, Pronghorn goaltender Alicia Anderson gave her team a chance to win, turning aside 37 of 40 Bisons shots on the night. Her counterpart Rachel Dyck earned her fourth shutout of the season making 19 saves.
After a cautious start to Friday night's contest, the Bisons began to impose their will on the Pronghorns in the back half of a scoreless opening period, outshooting Lethbridge 12-3, but were unable to beat Anderson.
Despite registering 11 shots in the second, the Pronghorns found themselves behind by two goals after two periods.
One second past the 14 minute mark, Emille Masse finished off a tic-tac-toe passing play with Alanna Sharman and Zacharias for her first career Canada West goal.
Second-year blueliner Jenai Buchanan beat Anderson blocker side from the slot only 3:24 later, which was also her first ever Canada West goal.
Looking to shut the Pronghorns down in the third, the Bisons clamped down defensively, allowing only five third period shots and sealed the game with just over two minutes to play. Carswell found open space on Anderson's blocker side to put the game out of reach.
On the night, the Bisons outshot the Pronghorns 40-19 and were scoreless in two power play opportunities. The Pronghorns didn't have a power play on the night.
The Pronghorns and Bisons will hit the ice tomorrow afternoon to complete the weekend set, puck drops at 1:00pm at Nicholas Sheran Arena. Catch all the action on www.canadawest.tv.