WINNIPEG — Dawson Pasternak scored twice on the power play and
Matthew Kieper made 30 saves as the University of Manitoba Bisons held off Trinity Western for a 3-2 victory Saturday afternoon at Wayne Fleming Arena.
The win completed a weekend sweep for Manitoba, which has now won three straight games and continued the momentum generated over the opening month of the Canada West season.
Trinity Western opened the scoring midway through the first period when Mikhailo Simchuk found the back of the net at 11:04, with Danylo Korzhyletskyi and Adam Leitch picking up the assists.
The Bisons answered quickly with the man advantage. Just 19 seconds into a power play, Pasternak beat Spartans goaltender Steven Bacovsky at 13:12 off a setup from
Tanner Willick and
Lucas Brennan to tie the game 1-1.
Manitoba struck again on the power play less than three minutes later. Pasternak converted a feed from
Skyler Bruce and Brennan at 15:22 to give the Bisons a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
The score remained unchanged through a penalty-filled second period as Kieper and Bacovsky turned aside every shot they faced. Manitoba killed off a pair of Trinity Western power plays while Bacovsky helped the Spartans survive another Bisons advantage.
The Bisons created some breathing room at 13:24 of the third period when Bruce finished a play from
Evan Toth for his sixth goal of the season, extending Manitoba's lead to 3-1.
Trinity Western pushed back late. Connor Farren scored on the power play with 31 seconds remaining in regulation to cut the deficit to one, but Manitoba closed out the victory.
Kieper was sharp throughout, stopping 30 of 32 shots, including 14 in the third period. Bacovsky finished with 34 saves as Manitoba outshot Trinity Western 37-32.
The Bisons' special teams proved decisive. Manitoba finished 2-for-4 on the power play, while Trinity Western went 1-for-6. Brennan recorded two assists, while Willick, Bruce and Toth each added helpers.
Bruce's goal and assist moved him into sole possession of the Canada West scoring lead with 12 points through the opening six games of the season. Pasternak led the offensive attack with 10 shots on goal as Manitoba generated consistent pressure throughout the contest. The Bisons will play the Cougars in Regina Friday before travelling to Virden, MB for a game in conjunction with Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation. Both games can be watched on
Canada West TV.
