Box Score The Manitoba Bisons dropped their second contest in a row to the Mount Royal Cougars late Saturday afternoon by a final score of 5-2. Cougar Connor Bouchard picked up four points for a total of seven in the series. 
 
"Obviously nobody's happy in our locker room about it, but I think it was a step in the right direction," said Bisons bench boss Gordon Burnett after the game.

"To have a chance both nights at the end of the game, I think that's a positive for our group right now."
 
Just like Friday night's 4-2 Mount Royal victory, the Cougars opened the scoring. A stretch pass from the Manitoba defensive zone didn't get past the red line, and Robbie Holmes brought the puck back in and passed back to Bouchard on the rush. Bouchard sent a backhand feed to the slot, and though no one in front got a stick on the puck, it found Winnipeg-born Cougar Michael Ladyman. The second-year defender whipped a shot past diving Bison goalie Kolby Thornton, who finished the night with 28 saves.
 
The Bisons responded with a few chances in the Cougars' zone and were awarded a powerplay after a two-on-one with Tony Apetagon and Johnny Hooker resulted in a hooking penalty on the Cougars.
 
The Bisons established lots of pressure on the ensuing powerplay, keeping possession of the puck and using point-man Chase Hartje to direct traffic. After an impressive effort on the left side by Dylan Thiessen to keep control, Hartje found team captain Johnny Hooker in the right circle who blasted home his team-leading fifth goal of the season to tie the game.
 
Four minutes later, the Bisons had another powerplay after a boarding call on Tim Gould. The Cougars killed off the penalty this time, and quickly profited from the momentum. 
 
Jaden Senkoe, who scored Friday's game-winner, delivered a pass to Bouchard in-stride to gain the zone entry. The second year forward made a heads-up play to find Remy Aquilon wide-open at the point, who closed in and unloaded a shot that hit Thornton but trickled past him.

Robbie Holmes was there to clean up the mess by sweeping in the puck to give Mount Royal the lead with 37 seconds left in the first. It was the sixth straight Mount Royal goal on which Bouchard picked up a point.
 
The Cougars opened the second period with an offensive-zone frenzy, shifting into a new gear that helped hem the Bisons in while showing off the same speed and puck-control they did Friday. The Bisons took three penalties in the period. 
 
"That's a good hockey team, there's no question about it," Burnett emphasized. "They skate really well, they move the puck around really well."

The Cougars scored the period's only goal on a powerplay marker by captain Connor Blake. It was the first time this series that a team led by more than a goal, except for Friday's empty-netter. Tensions then began to rise, and the teams played four-on-four twice after a couple of rough skirmishes in the second half of the game. 
 
Midway through the third, the Bisons established offensive-zone possession and Hartje skillfully stickhandled in from the point and was almost able to slide it in behind Cougars' goalie Riley Sims, but lost his footing behind the net and Mount Royal took off. Remy Aquilon brought the puck into the Manitoba zone three-on-two and set up Spencer Moe in the middle. Bison Jackson Arpin stepped up and wedged the puck free, but Daniel Kernaghan was in position to pounce on it and strike back-door and make it 4-1.
 
The Bisons responded three minutes later when defenceman Parker Malchuk, under duress at his own line, chipped the puck to Hayden Ostir along the boards, who tipped it into open ice where Thiessen had room to take off and embarked on a two-on-one with Arpin. Arpin took a pass and roofed it to get one back for Manitoba. 
 
"We created some chances off the rush," said Burnett. He added that though he'd like the team to capitalize on more of its chances, he's seen steady offensive improvement. "We're creating the chances that we weren't creating earlier in the season." 
 
Time ran out, however, and the Cougars iced the series with an empty-net goal by Connor Bouchard in the final minute. 
 
The Bisons will take on the Trinity Western University Spartans next weekend. Both teams are looking for their first win of the season. The Cougars will take on the undefeated UBC Thunderbirds.