EDMONTON – Enjoying two 5-on-3 powerplays in the final six minutes of the game, the Manitoba Bisons finally got the goal they were looking for with just 1:18 left.
And it was a true backbreaker for the Griffins. Only two seconds after their second two-man advantage in the final six minutes of the game expired, Julia Bird jumped on a loose puck out of a scramble, rang it off both posts and past Brianna Sank to lift the Bisons to a 3-2 win.

It was the only time in the contest that the Griffins trailed. Emilly Shippam stopped 23 saves in the win, her first career U SPORTS victory. 

With the result, the Griffins fall to 3-9-1 on the Canada West campaign, while the Bisons improve to 5-8, and are riding a two-game win streak.

It didn't take the Griffins long to open the scoring as they came out skating and forechecking, which led to Sydney Hughson's goal, a side of the net chance that just trickled through Shippam 2:45 into the game. 

Manitoba jumped out to a quick start in the second period and got the tying goal just 1:39 into the middle frame when Molly Kunnas beat Sank.
But, with the Griffins on a 5-on-3 powerplay late in the second, Jayme Doyle cashed in her first of the season, one-timing home a back door pass from Makenna Schuttler.

Brenna Nicol knocked in the tying goal just 1:10 into the third period, her first career U SPORTS goal, to set up the late drama.

While the penalty leger wasn't unfair to MacEwan as they enjoyed more powerplays than Manitoba did early in the game, they were put in a tough spot when Jennifer Andrash's tripping call was followed up by a bodychecking penalty on Kallie O'Hearn, giving the Bisons a two-man advantage for 32 seconds. Bird scored two seconds after Andrash stepped out of the box, as she didn't even get back into the play.

The teams will meet again on Saturday (3 p.m., Downtown Community Arena, Canada West TV).