WINNIPEG -- Five different goal scorers found the back of the net as the Bisons won 5-2 over the Regina Cougars on Friday night. Aimee Patrick earned her 50th point on the night, becoming the 14th player in program history to reach the milestone.
 
"It just feels nice to win," said head coach Jordan Colliton, reflecting on the night. "We started getting rewarded in the first period. We kind of started pouring it in. There was a bit of a relief for our group that finally, all their hard work was paying off."
 
The Bisons were fired up to open the first, out-shooting the Cougars 13-4, scoring three in the process.
 
Sara Harbus opened the scoring for Manitoba three minutes into the game. A quick skate down the ice by Aimee Patrick gave her time to flip the puck near the crease for Harbus to tap it in.
 
Patrick scored Manitoba's second just five minutes later. Rookie Izzy Mann expertly picked off a Regina pass, getting it to Patrick who slotted it home.
 
The Bisons closed out the period strong, as they scored their third goal of the night on the power play. A quick passing sequence allowed Julia Bird -- playing in a team-leading 116th overall game -- to get her stick on a feed in front for the tally.
 
A relatively quiet second period broke out in intensity in the last three minutes of the period.
 
Regina got their first of the night after a good zone entry by Cassidy Peters caused a puck battle to break out in front of the Bisons goal, which allowed Pippy Pritchard to put away the leftovers.
 
The Cougars were inches away from a second after a tough bounce caused the puck to skirt across Manitoba's goal line, but the Bisons escaped after the Regina forwards were unable to force it over the line.
 
Manitoba were not without their chances throughout the second, with their best coming in the last 15 seconds of the period. A quick pass allowed Bisons Forward Brenna Nicol to go in alone against Amy Swayze, but the Regina netminder came up with a big double-save to prevent the Bisons from extending their lead.
 
The Cougars brought their deficit within one to open the period, after an impressive toe-drag by Peters got her alone on the Manitoba net and slotted it home for her second point on the night.
 
The Bisons were unfazed however, and scored twice within 30 seconds while on a two-man advantage.
 
"Regardless whether we score or they score, it's always about the next shift being able to reset your focus," replied Colliton when asked about the response from Regina. "It's important that we're able to have kind of a short term memory, so that you continue to play the right way."
 
Manitoba's first of the power play came after an intense puck battle that was won by Patrick in front of the Regina net, and Forward Kelsy Huibers capitalized on it for her second goal of the season. This was Patrick's third point of the night, and she now has 52 points during her tenure as a Bison.
 
"She set the tone from her first shift," said Colliton regarding Patrick's performance. " Her compete level, her willingness to take the puck to the dirty areas of the ice when it's really hard to get there, just shows her commitment to play for the team."
 
Nicol -- playing in her 100th career game -- scored the second goal of the power play, after another quick passing sequence from Manitoba gave the veteran time in front of the net to force the puck over the line.
 
Despite some pushback from the Cougars, the Bisons kept their composure and closed out the game 5-2.
 
The Bisons return tomorrow for the rematch at 5 p.m. CT.