Box Score It was an atypical game on Saturday night at Wayne Fleming Arena with a total of 13 goals between the Bisons and Trinity Western Spartans. Both teams took many penalties and dished out big hits. Bisons forward Devon Skoleski scored the game winner to much relief of his team, beating their opponents 7-6.
 
Saturday night was a completely different story from the night before for the Bisons who came out with more speed, beating the Spartans to pucks. They had some early chances, generating in the offensive zone.
 
Their efforts paid off with a quick shot off the faceoff dot from forward Colton Veloso. Veloso picked the corner and ripped it over the shoulder of Spartans netminder Raphael Audet to get one up early. It was the first lead for the Bisons this weekend.
 
Later, Bisons forward Mike King was awarded a four-minute penalty after drawing blood from a high stick.
 
Four minutes was plenty of time for the Spartans to make their presence known. Forward Tanner Hopps shot once but it was blocked by Bisons forward Geordie Keane. Hopps shot again, blocked by defenceman Liam Schioler. Hopps shot a third time and in it went.
 
The goal was called back as the refs had missed a high stick from Spartans forward Mikol Sartor on Bisons defenceman Evan Toth that drew blood, sending Sartor to the box.
 
During the double minor, the puck was cleared by Trinity Western who ended up on a broken two-on-one shorthanded. Forward Daine DuBois took the shot but Bisons netminder Simon Harkness made the save from a high danger area.
 
The Spartans earned another double minor and the Bisons took advantage of their mistakes. From the high slot, forward Hayden Ostir took the pass from defenceman Parker Malchuk, and with the one timer, went over the glove of Audet to go 2-0.
 
With a minute left to go on the double minor, forward Devon Skoleski put a puck in front, forward Brett Davis picked it up and tapped it in on the backdoor, giving the Bisons a three-goal lead.
 
On a Spartans powerplay, and with a burst of desperation, defenceman Jesse Pomeroy went net front, getting the tip in over the blocker from forward Jeremy Klessens to put them on the board.
 
Using the momentum from the goal, the Spartans turned a good chance for the Bisons into a goal for themselves. Snatching the puck after a broken two-on-one, forward Luke Spadafora came into the zone and passed to forward Michael Spafford who put it away to make it a one goal game.
 
The Bisons opened the middle period with a bit of a boost as they killed off a five-minute major. Both teams seemed to have settled, slowing the period down.
 
On a rush for the Bisons, forward Dylan Thiessen passed to Apetagon who shot through a cluster in front of the net. Initially, the goal was waved off but after a replay the Bisons were awarded their two-goal lead back.
 
"I saw Thiessen take it wide, and then he passed it to me, and I kind of fanned on it," said Apetagon. "And it just trickled in. A goal's a goal!"
 
With another powerplay opportunity, Bisons defenceman Chase Hartje shot from the point. It was tipped in front and wound up loose in the blue paint after hitting Thiessen's leg. Thiessen put it in for the Bisons third powerplay goal of the evening.
 
The Spartans took another penalty just after and the Bisons went up 6-2. Captain Keane went backhand and was stopped by Audet, but it came out and ended up in the back of the net.
 
Finally, it was the Spartans turn for a powerplay and they wasted no time. With Penner alone in front, the Bisons attempted to clear but it went off the side of Harkness and trickled across the line to make it 6-3.
 
A few minutes into the final 20, the Spartans went to the powerplay. Just six seconds in, DuBois went five-hole with traffic in front. Harkness wasn't expecting it and DuBois brought his team within two.
 
Keeping on theme with the evening's story, another penalty was taken and this time the Bisons had a powerplay opportunity. Forward Chase Hartje with the shot from the point, found forward Brett Davis on the goal line. Davis went off the skate to Skoleski who found the back of the net.
 
In a last-ditch effort to revive themselves, the Spartans pulled Audet for the extra man. DuBois got the rebound, going backhand, forehand, shelf for his second of the night, making it a 7-4 game. With the extra man still out there, defenceman Travis Verveda found Klessens for an unbelievable release on one-timer off the faceoff dot to the top of the net.
 
With a one goal game and the clock running out, absolute chaos ensued in front of the net. Only milliseconds left on the board, Spartans almost tied it when the puck ended up loose in front, but the buzzer rang out.
 
The Bisons walked away with a much-needed win, utterly exhausted at the buzzer. With the win, the Herd are just one point behind Regina for the sixth and final playoff spot, while increasing their win total by one from a year ago. Manitoba also holds the season series over the Cougars. 

"The message for tonight's game was keep it simple, go back to the basics," added Apetagon. "Just regroup as a team because it's been a rough couple of weeks and it's nice to finally get one. I think guys were ready to go tonight. Guys were buying in, doing their job. It's late in the season, everyone should know their role."