WINNIPEG —The Manitoba Bisons remain in the hunt for a first-round bye, but their road got more difficult after a weekend sweep at the hands of the Regina Cougars.

The hungry Cougars — who overcame two-goal deficits on both Friday and Saturday, winning today 3-2 — find themselves climbing into the Canada West playoffs, as they now hold the sixth and final spot.

Manitoba, meanwhile, sits at 11-7-0 after this weekend and two points back of second-place Saskatchewan. They'll host the Huskies at Wayne Fleming Arena next weekend needing to pick up at least a win to keep the fight alive.

Saturday's game in Regina was a near-carbon copy of Friday's game. Manitoba jumped out to a 2-0 lead off first period goals by Lauren Warkentin and Jena Barscello.

And, just like Friday, the goals by Warkentin and Barscello were followed by a Lilla Carpenter-Boesch goal to draw the Cougars to within one. That goal came well into the second period, and Carpenter-Boesch struck again just over a minute into the third period after banging home a rebound following a partial breakway by Heather Fiske.

Jordan Kulbida scored the game-winning goal midway through the third on a missile off a feed from Megan Long on the power play. The Cougars were outshot 8-5 in the third, but were able to hang on for the critical late-season victory.