Having clinched a home playoff series and a top 4 place in the Canada West standings, Manitoba (16-7-4) was looking to start the final weekend series of the regular season on a positive note Friday, February 7 night against the Lethbridge Pronghorns (7-15-5) at the Wayne Fleming Arena (U of Manitoba campus). Amanda Schubert was outstanding, and Michelle Pawluk recorded three points as the Bisons blanked the Pronghorns 4-0.

Manitoba got goals from Amy Lee, Pawluk, Caitlin MacDonald, and Rachèle Bosc. Amanda Schubert recorded 19 saves for the shutout. Lethbridge's Crystal Patterson made 23 saves in defeat.

After generating several opportunities early, the Bisons capitalized on the power play with Amy Lee's seventh goal of the season on a juicy rebound off a Michelle Pawluk shot at 3:55 of the frame.

Teams exchanged body contact penalties later in the period, but both goaltenders stood tall while down a player. Shots were 8-6 Manitoba.

Just over four minutes into the second period, a Michelle Pawluk blast from the point found its way through the crowd in front of Patterson and into the net to put the Bisons up 2-0.

Schubert continued her excellent play, including sprawling her glove-hand out to prevent a floating puck from getting past the goal line midway through the period.

In the third, Kyleigh Palmer deked her way past a line of Pronghorn defenders and went five-hole, but Patterson shut the door. Pronghorns' Katie Mucha took an undisciplined head contact penalty, and the Bisons were able to capitalize on the power-play again. This time it was Caitlin MacDonald from Meagan Vestby and Michelle Pawluk at 9:22. Manitoba finished 2/10 on the power-play.

Bosc added a fourth goal for the Bisons, and then things began to get chippy. Lethbridge's Lauren Fredrich was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for body contact late in the period.

"We were disciplined, and we have to be against teams that are not in the playoffs and have nothing to play for," said Bisons' head coach Jon Rempel following Friday's game.

"We have to play through that, and I think we did a good job of that tonight."

Manitoba looks to head into the post-season with a weekend sweep tomorrow night at 6 p.m. CT at the Wayne Fleming Arena.