The Manitoba Bisons fell 7-1 to the Western Trinity Spartans on Friday night at Wayne Fleming Arena. The lone Bisons goal came off a tip from forward Tony Apetagon. Even outshooting their opponents, they weren't able to come back after falling 2-0 early in the first. 
 
With both teams clawing to end a losing slump, the Spartans came out of the gate with a little more desperation than the Bisons. Their energy and speed made it difficult for the Bisons to keep up.
 
The Bisons powerplay was no match for the Spartans penalty kill. On a rebound off the stick of Bisons forward Brett Davis, Spartans forward Daine Dubois had the back pressure, went backhand, forehand, and finished with a slick shot shorthanded.
 
The Bisons drew another penalty but couldn't capitalize. The Spartans penalty kill gave them no good chances.
 
In the faceoff circle, the Bisons called the shots, but faceoff wins aren't any good if you can't keep up. At just about the halfway mark, the Bisons got caught flat footed again, as Spartans forward Jarrett Penner cut to the inside to go around Bisons defenceman Parker Malchuk, get position and go five-hole to make it 2-0.
 
"These are must win games," said Bisons forward Basarab. "We didn't come to play. We have to be way better. It's on us. Can't be doing that out there."
 
To the Bisons advantage, a miscommunication with Spartans netminder Raphal Audet led to the deficit being cut in half and Appetagon tipped it bar down.
 
An early high sticking call to Bisons forward Hayden Ostir gave the Spartans a four-minute powerplay. Shorthanded, Bisons forward Noah Basarab was on the doorstep backhand. Basarab couldn't get the forehand to get it in and tried to shovel it. Audet eventually made the save and the whistle was blown.
 
The game slowed down exponentially in the second period in terms of high dangerous scoring opportunities, and both teams seemed to be more focused on their defensive game.
 
The Bisons had another great chance on a 2-on-1 with Ostir and forward Samuel Stewart, but things quickly took a turn. On a 3-on-1 the other way, Penner couldn't get the shot away, but forward Luke Spadafora found the puck on his stick. It trickled in on Bisons netminder Ross Hawryluk to get the Spartans two goal lead back.
 
The Spartans reign continued as forward Jeremy Klessens picked the top corner and went over the shoulder of Hawryluk making it 4-1.
 
As the period winded down, the physicality picked up. Bisons defenceman Ryan Gottfried lowered the boom on Spartans forward Joshua Bruce to splay him out.
 
While the Bisons continued to outshoot the Spartans in the final period, they weren't high dangerous scoring chances.
 
"Tomorrow, we have to come, keep it simple," said Basarab. "Get back to playing Bison hockey and we should come out on top."
 
The Spartans played their steady, simple game as they had the whole time. They took advantage of every opportunity the Bisons gave them.
 
On a long shift without a whistle, Spartans Bruce and Dubois had a broken 2-on-1. Bisons Hawryluk was out of position and Dubois capitalized for his second of the night.
 
Spartans Dubois secured his hat trick with an empty netter, and Spafford closed the scoring for the night.
 
The Bisons will host the Spartans again Saturday night at 7 p.m.