WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Bisons and Regina Cougars put on a show at Wayne Fleming Arena on Saturday evening, going to a shootout for the second night in a row. After falling 4-3 yesterday, Regina got redemption in the rematch, with a 3-2 victory. Makena Kushniruk scored the shootout winner.
 
It's the first time in 16 years that Manitoba has gone to a shootout against a conference opponent in back-to-back games during a weekend set. The last time was also against Regina at home.
 
With the win, Regina improved to 2-1-0-1, while Manitoba fell to 1-0-0-1.
 
The Bisons showed tremendous heart, battling back from a one-goal deficit twice, including in the final five seconds to send the game to extras. Senior blue liner Hanna Bailey tied the contest with a wrist shot on a two-man advantage.
 
"The people on the ice knew exactly what we needed to do in the game plan. Everybody on the bench was focused on what was happening on the ice, there wasn't anybody feeling sorry because they weren't out there. It was like, these players are going to get the job done and they trusted each other," said Bisons head coach Jordan Colliton of the final push to tie the game.
 
"We were a connected group, just with the commitment to our game plan and the willingness for everyone to do their job, which led to momentum and shifts wave after wave throughout the whole game that generated chances."
 
The other story was the play of both netminders. Cougars goalie Natalie Williamson stopped 39 shots, and all three Bisons attempts in the shootout, while true freshman Cypress Classen made 20 saves in her first U SPORTS start, including eight in OT.
 
"Cypress was excellent," added Colliton.
 
"There were a couple of times even five on five where Regina was able to generate chances. They did a really good job creating chaos in front of the net, and she did a great job tracking pucks and getting whistles, the same thing in overtime on the penalty kill. She did a great job tracking and her teammates did a great job clearing it away."
 
The Herd blasted 13 shots on net and had two power plays in the opening 20, commanding zone time often. Defenceman Louise Fergusson led all players with four shots, including two on Manitoba's opening PP, and another where she zipped past two Cougars for a great chance from in close.
 
Forward Ashley Keller also had a sensational chance to open the scoring eight minutes in on a partial breakaway, however Williamson shut the door.
 
It was Regina who cracked the deadlock with three minutes to go. Tessa Stewart sprinted past multiple Bisons short-handed, getting to a loose puck and surging in on a partial breakaway, which she put away top corner for the lone goal of the period. It was Stewart's third straight game scoring a goal.
 
Manitoba racked up another 15 shots in period two, with Williamson standing tall for most of them. Her most impressive save came with 4:30 to go, as she closed the five-hole on a no-look deflection in front of the crease by Dana Goertzen, off an excellent feed from Julia Bird.
 
But the Bisons finally cracked Williamson with 4:25 to. Bailey's shot from the blue line was tipped by a Cougar and deflected into the net by Aimee Patrick. It was Patrick's 21^st career goal as a Bison, which leads all active players.
 
Regina pushed back, and once again went into the break up by one. A stolen puck in Manitoba's zone eventually found the stick of Pippy Pritchard, who tapped in a rebound for her second goal of the season and third point in the last three games.
 
The hosts added 12 more shots in the third, continuously earning zone entry with strong stick handling from the likes of Goertzen, Bird, Fergusson and Sadie Keller, who combined for 20 shots. The hosts were rewarded in the final five seconds, sending the game to OT for the second night in a row.
 
With their goalie pulled and on a power play, Manitoba kept the puck in, getting it to Bailey, whose wrist shot beat Williamson thanks to a double screen in front from Goertzen and Norah Collins.
 
The Bisons executed a great game plan on the tying goal, elevating the puck against Williamson, a strategy that paid off.
 
"That was one thing we talked about in the timeout was making Williamson move and elevating that puck," said Colliton.
 
"I thought we did a great job with the traffic and Hanna did a great job finding that seam, releasing it and snapping it with great poise."
 
Manitoba faced adversity in the five-minute overtime, needing to overcome a five on three after taking two minors. Staying composed, Classen stopped all eight shots she faced, including multiple from in close, as the Herd and Cougars went to a shootout for the second night in a row.
 
A total of five players made an attempt in the shootout, with Kushniruk – Regina's first shooter – scoring the lone goal. She went forehand-backhand to win it for Regina, as Williamson stopped Kelsey Huibers, Alyssa Rasmuson and Collins.
 
Manitoba travels to play Calgary next, while Regina is on the bye.