WINNNIPEG — Special teams was the story on Friday afternoon at Wayne Fleming Arena, as the Saskatchewan Huskies scored two power play goals in quick succession in the second period, overcoming a one-goal deficit to top the Manitoba Bisons 3-2.

Manitoba netted two power play markers of their own in a thrilling contest. With the win, Saskatchewan improves to 2-0, while Manitoba fell to 0-2 following a 6-1 loss yesterday. In net, Bisons goalie Kolby Thornton made 39 saves in his first U SPORTS start and 58 overall on the weekend. 

"The power play did a great job of putting it into the net," said Bisons head coach Gordon Burnett. "Tony [Apetagon] gets the first one, it hits their stick and goes in, but at the end of the day it's a goal, and the other one was a big time goal at the end to give us a chance. I was really happy with what they've been doing out there."
 
After winning the third period yesterday, the Bisons built off their momentum, getting the game's first quality scoring chance four minutes in shorthanded. 
 
Captain Jonny Hooker and forward Hayden Ostir won a battle for the puck near the end boards, creating a two-on-one. Hooker dished a drop-pass to Ostir, but his shot was blocked. Amid the chaos, Ostir re-possess the puck with an open net, but his shot from just outside the crease went off the far post. 

"If you look at how the game went last night, they executed at a higher rate. Today, they still executed a little better than we did, but again, if you can understand what's going on, and you can possess the puck you can create chances short-handed," said Burnett. "We had a couple of those and if we execute a little better we could add a couple more."
 
Overall, both teams had two power play chances in the first. It was the Herd who capitalized on their second with 3:19 to go, as Apetagon's shot beat Roddy Ross off of a deflection to give Manitoba their first lead of the weekend and a 1-0 lead entering the break. 
 
The Huskies out-shot the Bisons 15-6 through 20, but were unable to beat Thornton. He stopped all 19 shots in relief the night prior, and was on the money again in the first. 

"The boys made it a simple game today," Thornton, who played in the NCAA for Aurora last year, said. "I was seeing a lot of pucks, it was easy. I felt comfortable, I thought it was a good weekend. We're ready to build off of that for next weekend."
 
Saskatchewan's best chance came on their second power play, as a shot from the left point created a massive rebound to the right, but no Huskie was able to get their stick on the puck. 
 
Three goals in the final eight minutes (less than three minutes apart) gave the Huskies a lead entering the third. 
 
The visitors tied the game with 8:14 to play, intercepting a pass in the netural zone to create a three-on-one. Forward Raphael Pelletier finished off a cross-ice pass while sprawling to his right to beat Thornton for the first time all weekend. 
 
Less than a minute later, the Bisons took a double minor and the Huskies scored twice on the man advantage. 
 
They took the lead with 5:44 to go, as forward Justin Ball waited out a sprawling Thornton in front, and they made it 3-1 20 seconds later, thanks to a wrist shot from the point from defenceman Colby Jaquet, who beat a screened Thorton from the point. 
 
Manitoba made it a one-goal game with 3:54 to go, as Hooker wristed a shot top corner off a screen on the power play, as the hosts entered the third down just one. 
 
Both teams played cleaner hockey in the third, creating chances on both ends in a fast-paced period. 
 
The Huskies went to the power play with 2:20 to go, but Hooker — a problem on the PK all game due to his speed and IQ — drew a penalty thanks to a turnover in the neutral zone with 1:34 to go. 
 
Burnett called a timeout and pulled Thorton for the rest of the game, giving Manitoba a five-on-four, however the Huskies prevented Manitoba from getting many quality looks. Their best chance to tie the game came in the final 15 seconds, as Ostir had a clean look on a wrist shot with space, but his shot was blocked by the closing Ty Prefontaine. 

Manitoba is on the bye