WINNIPEG – The No. 2 Saskatchewan Huskies (19-4-2) extended their winning streak to eight games on Friday night at Wayne Fleming Arena, topping the Manitoba Bisons (9-12-2) 3-2 in double overtime in a game that saw a combined 55 minutes in penalties — 35 of which went to the visitors.
The single point was valuable for Manitoba, who are three points ahead of Regina for fifth in the conference and five ahead of UBC.
Manitoba committed five penalties in the opening period, while Saskatchewan committed four.
A double minor for high sticking — the first of two four-minute penalties for the Bisons — did the most damage.
The first double minor occurred in the opening minute and the Huskies capitalized. Forward Donovan Neuls released a wrist shot from the left slot that went off a Bison and in at 1:33.
Manitoba's second double minor occurred with 1:34 left in the period due to spearing. The Bisons killed off the first portion, but entered the second period on the penalty kill.
Despite the frequent infractions, Manitoba did a relatively good job of limiting a potent Huskies power play and also got a few chances on odd man rushes short-handed.
The host's best offensive opportunity came five minutes into the contest with the man advantage. Keaton Jameson tipped a shot just outside the crease on a Colton Veloso pass, however Saskatchewan goaltender Taran Kozun made the stop.
The second period mimicked the first in terms of penalty minutes, however it was the Huskies who were primarily sitting in the box. They spent more than half of the period killing off penalties, however Manitoba was unable to cash in. This was due in part to Kozun, who made a number of big saves from in tight.
The Bisons tied the game up at even strength however, courtesy of senior defenceman Sean Christensen, who was playing in the final home series of his UM career. He received a loose puck from Josh Tripp and wristed it past Kozun and a sea of bodies in front with 9:41 to go.
The final two minutes in the middle frame were absolute madness.
Saskatchewan at one point had three men in the box, giving Manitoba a sustained five-on-three. Kozun kept the game tied and his side rewarded him short-handed with 31 seconds left as forward Carson Stadnyk went forehand-backhand on a two-on-one.
The tempo of the game reached an utter halt five minutes into the third period, as Bisons alternate captain Jonah Wasylak took a very scary hit to the head.
After a significant delay, the game restarted with Manitoba on a five-minute power play. They cashed in 36 seconds later, as forward Jeremey Leipsic found Devon Skoleski on a stellar pass from behind the net that the latter made no mistake on with a one-timer.
"All the penalties in the game, those were a lot of stick penalties and we can't take penalties like that, as many as we did in the first period. I thought we adjusted to how the refs were calling and eliminated a lot of the stick penalties, but when a play like that happens, our guys were upset," Bisons head coach Mike Sirant said postgame.
"Any time you see a teammate or any player hurt to that severity, it's upsetting. Our guys used it to rally and to get that important power play goal to tie it up for [Wasylak]. The guys got together on the bench and said we've got to step up and we've got to get this done on the power play for him, and they did."
Neither side found the back of the net the rest of the way, sending the contest to four-on-four overtime. The best chance for Saskatchewan in the first OT came on a partial breakaway in the final minute, however Manitoba goalie Tyler Brown shut the door.
The Huskies earned the extra point in three-on-three overtime, as Logan McVeigh netted a power play goal at 2:26. The game-winner came not long after a Bisons two-on-one.
The two sides will be back at it tomorrow night.
