Box Score Winnipeg, MB - Two goals in the first 1:47 of the first period served as the difference for the Bisons men's hockey team, who picked up their first win of the season with a 6-3 victory over the Regina Cougars in their home opener on Friday night. With the win, Manitoba improved to 1-2-0 while Regina fell to 0-5-0.
Codey Behun had his first career two-goal game at the U SPORTS level in the win, while
Hayden Ostir also scored twice, and has five points in his first three games. In net,
Braden Holt stopped 27 of 30 shots he faced for his first U SPORTS win.
Lettermen
Jonny Hooker and
Jackson Arpin added two assists of their own while 11 players recorded a point overall.
Ostir opened up the scoring 20 seconds into the contest with a wraparound which tricked the Cougars goaltender on the Herd's first shot of the game. The goal, Ostir's second of the season, was set up by an impressive drive to the net by the captain Hooker, with
Eric Alarie getting his stick on the puck just prior to Ostir, who tapped in the loose puck near the crease.
Skyler Bruce added to Manitoba's lead less than a minute later. An aggressive back check led to a turnover, and the Herd capitalized in transition, with Bruce using his speed and vision to get open at the left wing, where he rocketed a shot top corner for his second goal of the season.
"We're really happy with the start at home," said head coach Gordon Burnett.
"The guys are excited, there's lots of energy. I just think that taking the puck to the net is a good thing and we're happy about getting the puck to the inside and the puck going in."
A real test of Manitoba's resiliency came just minutes after their second goal, as their penalty kill unit was given a five-on-three to kill and they stepped up to the challenge.
Shortly after, Behun finished off a two-on-one pass he received from Arpin, as Manitoba once again caused a turnover on the back check.
Behun added his second goal of the game to make it a 4-0 lead on a short-handed marker.
Once again it was Arpin who facilitated the goal, as he dispossessed the puck from Regina in the attacking zone, beating three Cougars and finding Behun wide open for a top shelf finish. It was Behun's first career multi-goal game at the U SPORTS level.
"It was pretty funny. It was kind of a broken play," said Behun of his second goal.
"I saw three guys go at [Arpin], and I think I was still at the red line when I was screaming for it. The guys on the bench were laughing because I wasn't in the zone yet and I was already yelling for it. I'm glad that he got it to me and I got it off my stick as fast as possible, and it went in the net."
Regina showed signs of life as they scored a power-play goal just after the in-house announcement wrapped up for Behun's goal.
Payden Bjorklund cut the deficit down to score Regina's first goal of the game, and Jaxon Steele scored a quick second goal to build some momentum for the Cougars.
Later,
Hayden Ostir made a crucial defensive play on the penalty kill that likely would've resulted in another goal for Regina. He broke up a pass right in front of the net and then cleared the puck to allow the Herd to get fresh legs on the ice.
"Hayden's done a good job this year. He's been around for a long time and I think he's doing a good job of understanding what we need him to do and when he's skating, he's at his best," said Burnett.
"We just encourage him to keep skating and checking and winning races to pucks and when he does that well, chances offensively come about for him."
The Bisons didn't waste time in the third period.
Riley Zimmerman added to the host's lead in yet another mad scramble in the Cougar's paint.
Regina answered back fast during a scramble in front of Manitoba's net. Jordan Brook would make the game 5-3, keeping the game close and having the Bisons crowd on their feet.
In a hard-fought final two minutes for the Cougars, Manitoba would add the final touches on Ostirs' empty net goal.
Both teams are set for the rematch on Saturday, October 19th at 5:00 pm CST.
