MHKY: Bisons battle from 3-0 down, but can't complete comeback, falling 6-4 to UBC
Manitoba’s top line of Devon Skoleski, Brett Davis and Colton Veloso contributed at least a point on every Manitoba tally and had nine points overall.
Miranda McGregor, Bison Sports
A three-goal first period helped the UBC Thunderbirds to a 6-4 win over the Manitoba Bisons on Friday night at The RINK Training Centre. The game was Manitoba's season and home-opener, while UBC improved to 2-1.
Thunderbirds defenseman Jake Lee opened the scoring with back-to-back goals in the first, coming just 2:08 apart. Lee now has four points on the season which ties him for the team lead. A third goal from Thunderbirds forward Carson Miller put the pressure on the Bisons to battle back, as the visitors outshot the Bisons 11-3.
The Bisons pushed back in the second period with a goal from defenseman
Chase Hartje. The goal, a slapshot from the point, was setup by a slick pass from forward
Devon Skoleski. The assist was the first of four points on the night for Skoleski.
A hectic third period included three goals from both sides. Manitoba did well to tie the game at three, as well as four, but the T-Birds answered quickly on both occasions.
Special teams played a major factor for Manitoba in the final 20, with two power play markers from their top line. Overall, Manitoba's top line of Skoleski,
Brett Davis and
Colton Veloso contributed at least a point on every Manitoba tally and had nine points overall.
Skoleski's top corner shot on a seam pass from Davis on the power play made it 3-2 just 3:44 into the third. A big save from Bisons netminder
Ross Hawryluk – who had 29 saves – kept Manitoba within one, just minutes before Davis scored to tie the game. The Davis tally came after Skoleski intercepted a pass in the T-Birds end, feeding his linemate cross-ice for a no doubter on a one-timer.
Less than three minutes later, Thunderbirds forward Ethan Mcindoe scored to give UBC a one goal advantage. With a UBC penalty late in the third, the Bisons special team went back to work and Davis scored from a similar spot to his prior tally, making it a four-all game on another great pass from Skoleski.
"Our powerplay was outstanding," said Bisons head coach
Mike Sirant. "They were really good tonight, same with penalty killing. We won the special teams game tonight which was really important."
The excitement in the rink was hushed after Thunderbirds forward Josh Williams gave his team the lead 15 seconds after the Bisons tied it up. The visitors sealed the deal with an empty netter by forward Sasha Mutala.
"It was a good comeback," said Sirant. "We showed resiliency to come back. Then we gave it away, inexcusable. To come back and tie it, and then let them come back and score, and then tie it up again and let them score the next shift is inexcusable. The next lineup's gotta recognize that's a big shift to get their job done. We gave away some valuable points tonight."
The Bisons host the Thunderbirds again tomorrow at 3 p.m.
