WINNIPEG – Fighting for a playoff spot, the Manitoba Bisons pulled off the upset of the season, knocking off first-place, nationally ranked Alberta 3-2 in overtime for their fourth straight win.
 
Braden Holt made 44 saves in the fiery comeback which saw Manitoba fight back from 1-0 and 2-1 down. The Bisons are five points behind MacEwan for the final playoff spot in Canada West's East Division, at 18, and will continue their push for the post-season tomorrow at 2 pm CT.
 
Dawson Pasternak scored the game-winner, and the first-year WHL product now has 14 points in 11 games for the Herd. Fellow first-year Skyler Bruce, another WHL standout, also scored, and has eight points in his last five games. His 28 points in 25 games are also tied for the Bisons lead.
 
"It's huge for us to stay in the fight, and continue to play meaningful hockey," said Bisons head coach Gordon Burnett.
 
"It's a good win against a good hockey team. We had some guys that really stepped up tonight. Braden played an incredible game, and Pasternak made some huge plays, including the one at the end."
 
Holt, second in Canada West in saves, made big impact stops throughout the entire game, beginning early on. Not one but two short-handed breakaway chances occurred for the Golden Bears as a result of their penalty kill unit, currently ranked third in Canada West.
 
Holt was up to the task however, making two excellent pad saves which kept the Bisons level in the first.
 
The Bisons had their best chance of the first period later on.
 
A miscue by the Bears defence gave forward Riley Stotts time to set up teammate Eric Alarie alone in front of the net, but an excellent quick-reaction save by the recent NHL call-up Tyler Palmer bailed the Golden Bears out at the doorstep
 
Alberta was the team to break the deadlock after intense end-to-end action for the first half of the second period.
 
Defenceman Aidan de la Gorgendiere shot the puck from the blue line, and Teammate Ty Nash capitalized on the rebound for his seventh goal of the season.
 
Manitoba immediately responded to tie the game up.
 
After a long string of possession in the offensive zone and strong saves by Palmer, the Bisons found the back of the net. Bisons forward Andrew Boucher made a cheeky behind the back pass to find Alarie alone at the point.
 
The goals kept coming as Alberta went ahead once more just over a minute later.
 
A strong forecheck on Stotts allowed for a two-on-one rush for the Golden Bears. After Holt made an initial save off of Eric Florchuk's shot, forward Adam Hall picked up the rebound to put his team up. 
 
The Bisons entered the third with their playoff hopes on the line.
 
Just seconds into the period, Skyler Bruce had a chance to tie the game up, as he received the puck at the point with time and space but fired it just above the crossbar.
 
Bruce wouldn't miss his second opportunity of the period however. On their red-hot power play, captain Jonny Hooker dangled past the Alberta defenceman to put the puck on a platter for Bruce, tying the game 2-2.
 
The Golden Bears started to build themselves back into the game as the period neared its end, but Holt along with a strong Manitoba defence shut down every opportunity Alberta threw their way.
 
Nothing got past the Bisons netminder, who made an impressive 17 saves in the third to send the game to overtime.
 
Overtime seemed to be going Alberta's way, as the Golden Bears locked the Bisons into their defensive zone.
 
However, patience brought the Bisons the hard-earned game winning goal.
 
Veteran Evan Toth calmly entered the Alberta zone and laid the puck off to Dawson Pasternak. With time and space, he entered the middle of the zone and fired it past the Alberta netminder.
 
This was Pasternak's first game winning goal at the U SPORTS level.
 
"Just buying into systems has been really good, and everyone doesn't want to give up on the playoffs just yet," said Pasternak.
 
"We know we can push and make it. [The goal] was a good pass by Toth. I just figured shooting through a screen, their goalie might not be able to see it. It was good that it went it, but it won't mean anything unless we can do it tomorrow and upcoming weekends."