WINNIPEG -- The search for depth scoring for the Manitoba Bisons has finally come to an end. With seven goals on Saturday afternoon at Wayne Fleming Arena, and a total of 14 in the weekend series, it's safe to say all systems are firing, as the Herd swept the MacEwan Griffins with a 7-2 victory that saw five different players score. 
 
Over two games, seven different players found the back of the net for the Bisons, who are now tied with MacEwan for the conference's final playoff spot, with 14 points.  
 
The opening period was fast paced with only a few whistles, despite finishing scoreless. An early penalty put MacEwan on the powerplay, but the Bisons special teams successfully killed it off.
 
The Griffins had a good chance a few minutes later on, as defenceman Curtis Roach but a big save from netminder Ross Hawryluk, who made 73 saves over two games, to shut the door. One of the Bisons' best chances came from Ostir with a quick shot from the high slot that went off the post.
 
Manitoba came out buzzing in the middle frame. Ryan Gottfried, captain Geordie Keane and forward Linden McCorrister all laid the leather, as the hosts finished a number of checks with authority, and the offence followed. 
 
Just 33 seconds into the middle period, forward Dylan Thiessen – back in the lineup this weekend after a lower body injury – got his team on the board with a low shot blocker side. With lots of speed, line mate Colton Veloso found him on the left side, and Thiessen scored on a no-doubter from the faceoff circle for his second goal and eighth point of the season.
 
The Bisons followed this up with an amazing blue-line to blue-line pass from Gottfried (his second assist of the weekend) to Ostir. The forward turned, pivoted, stopped up, and with a backhand secured the second goal for the Bisons. 


It was Ostir's second goal of the season, and first since late October, despite a number of chances created by high-effort plays. Head coach Mike Sirant rewarded Ostir for his hard work, placing him (beginning last week) on the top line with Brett Davis (one point shy of the conference lead in points, with 21) and Devon Skoleski (18 points in 13 games). 
 
"It's big. I think we needed to change things up for a bit and I think it worked. We had a really big weekend, hopefully we can keep it going," he said of his addition to the top line. 
 
"It feels good [to score], I can't really put it into words right now. It was a great pass [by Gottfried], great play."
 
Manitoba made it 3-0 in the second in a right place, right time situation for Bisons defenceman Mitch Dyck whose shot from the blue line -- by the grace of the hockey Gods -- bounced off a Griffins defender and redirected past Ashton Abel for his second of the season. 
 
Both teams combined for a whopping six goals in a busy third period. 
 
The first came just five and a half minutes in for the Bisons on a one timer from Davis. The powerplay marker was Davis' second of the weekend, and first of three special teams markers in the period for Manitoba.
 
MacEwan, desperate to not give Hawryluk a shutout, got on the board at 8:42, as Curtis Roach found a seam and went top shelf on a backhand.
 
In the final ten minutes, the Bisons powerplay went to work. A beauty feed from Linden McCorrister found Davis with time and space for a one timer. The tally tied Davis for the most goals in the conference with nine. 
 
With just under five to go, Ostir drew another penalty, sending the Bisons back to the powerplay. It took 12 seconds for McCorrister to find the back of the net with the help of a great screen from Keane in front. It was McCorrister's third goal in two games.
 
As both teams battled to shut the other down, the Griffins managed to draw a five-minute major forcing the Bisons to the penalty kill with under three and a half left. In 41 seconds, Griffins forward David Kope secured a second and final goal for his team.
 
The Bisons had the closing spectacle of the afternoon on a turnover resulting in a shorthanded goal from Thiessen who found a seam and went low blocker side.
 
Manitoba will be back on the road next weekend taking on Saskatchewan, while MacEwan is on the bye.