Lethbridge – With playoff implications on the line, the Lethbridge Pronghorns could not solve Manitoba Bison goaltender Byron Spriggs and dropped their fifth straight game, falling 4-0 in the first of a two game men's hockey series on Friday, January 20.

Spriggs turned aside 31 shots to earn the shutout (his second of the season), while the Bisons received a two goal performance from rookie Nick Zajac in the win. Liam Bilton scored his first of the season and Jonah Wasylak scored the other Bison goal.

Garret Hughson turned aside 30 Bison shots in the loss.

At the end of the day, specialty teams was the Pronghorns undoing, going 0 for 9 with the man advantage and surrendering two shorthanded goals and a power play goal.

Heading into the first game of the weekend series, the Pronghorns and Bisons were tied for fifth in the Canada West standings, only three points ahead of the UBC Thunderbirds and with points at the upmost importance both teams came out with early intensity. Zajac had the first great chance to open the scoring for the Bisons, beating Pronghorn Garett Hughson but not the post. Remi Laurencelle followed up on the rebound but also hit the iron.

In a highly competitive period, the Pronghorns had their chances as well. Bison goaltender Byron Spriggs made a great shoulder save off of Cory Millette to keep the game scoreless and the post was his friend as well, as Torrin White beat him with a low shot but hit the inside of the post.

On their first power play of the game, the Bisons broke the deadlock just past the 12 minute mark on a slick tic-tac-toe play. Laurencelle fed Rene Hunter as he drove the net and Hunter found Zajak back door for a tap in. Shots after one favored the Bison 13-10 in a spirited opening 20 minutes.

Despite a scoreless second period, the Pronghorns had the better of the chances in the but could not solve Spriggs. Pronghorn leading goal scorer Justin Valentino was sprung for a breakaway but was robbed by Spriggs' right pad. He gathered the rebound but his shot grazed the post and went out the other side. Spriggs came up big again robbing Millette on a close redirection, flashing his right pad and then shut the door on an extended Pronghorn two man advantage. Shots after were deadlocked at 24.

The Pronghorns opened the third looking for the equalizer but still could not beat Spriggs and after some solid early saves, his teammates rewarded him with some insurance.

A crazy bounce off the back boards and over a Pronghorns defender stick went right to Liam Bilton, who made no mistake beating Hughson blocker side. Then on a two-on-one, Brett Brooks slid the puck across to a streaking Johan Wasylak, who stayed with his initial shot and banged home the rebound for his third of the season to make it 3-0.

Looking to get back into the game, the Pronghorns pulled their goalie with just under three minutes to play but the Bisons salted the game away with an empty net goal from Zajac.

The loss drops the Pronghorns two points behind the Bisons with an 8-10-3 record, while the Bisons improve to 10-10-1.

The Pronghorns and Bisons will conclude their season series tomorrow afternoon (Sat., Jan. 21) at Nicholas Sheran Arena, puck drops at 2 p.m. CT.