WINNIPEG — Skyler Bruce's third period powerplay goal served as the eventual game-winner on Saturday's afternoon's game at 'The Flem, as the Manitoba Bisons defeated the Alberta Golden Bears 3-2 to improve to 11-11-2-0 while the Golden Bears fell to 10-10-2-2.
The Herd didn't get off to the start they wanted. An early turnover in the defensive zone landed on the stick of Alex Thacker who beat Matthew Kieper blocker side to open the scoring on the first shot of the game just over a minute in.
Kieper didn't let the early goal phase him, making a spectacular cross crease right pad stop shortly after during the four-on-four action. The Bisons stormed back the other way and when a Kaycee Coyle blast from the point bounced off the right pad of Ethan Kruger, Jonny Hooker was right on the doorstep to bang in the rebound to tie it 1-1 with 16:19 to go in the first.
"He made some incredible saves. He came across a couple times on a couple two on ones. They had a guy on the back side of him, and he was able to get across and make sure that it didn't go on net. We're real happy with his performance, and, it's always just building off what he's done so far," said Bisons head coach Gordon Burnett.
Midway through the frame Jackson Arpin went off hooking which gave the Golden Bears second best powerplay in the league, the opportunity to go to work. Justin Hall wired a hard shot on net that bounced off the end boards. Adam Hall grabbed the puck below the goalline and quickly wrapped it around the left post bouncing over the pad of Kieper to regain Alberta's lead with 8:42 left in the period.
Coyle went off minutes later for delay of game, but the Herd held the fort and killed it successfully. With 20 minutes in the books the Golden Bears led 2-1 on the scoreboard and held a 12-7 edge in the shot count.
The Herd earned an early opportunity to break even thanks to a too many players on the ice penalty, and made the Golden Bears pay. After having some trouble to set up in the offensive zone, Dawson Pasternak fed a seam pass from the point to Lucas Brennan at the right circle who tucked the puck just under the crossbar to tie the game 2-2.
Kieper had to be sharp shortly after as a two on one passing play from Alberta, ended with him making another cross crease save off Justin Hall, which knocked the stick out of his hand, but he kept the puck in front of him. Alberta continued the pressure and tested Kieper multiple times, but he stood his ground in the crease and kept the game even.
"Unreal. Like, I don't know how many backdoors happens they could have had for goals and he was paddle saving. He worked so hard in practice and he works on those things. ?That's the one thing we all admire about [Kieper] and we appreciate is that in practice, he's not going to give up on a play," said Skyler Bruce on his netminders performance.
Caden Zaplitny took an ill-advised double minor in front of the net for high sticking which forced the Herd to focus on defence for the time being. After killing the first half of the four minutes, Ben Bonni took a cross-checking penalty in the corner to give the Golden Bears a five on three advantage. Fortunately, timely saves, solid zone exits and strong defensive structure allowed the Herd to kill off both infractions.
Many more chances came and went for either side as the period unfolded but neither were able to capitalize resulting in a 2-2 tie after 40 minutes of play. The shot count sat at 25-15 for the Golden Bears.
Penalty trouble struck Alberta midway through the third. Aiden Yakimchuk got called for tripping and shortly after Justin Hall had an overzealous stick check in the offensive zone and went off also for tripping. The five on three gave the Herd the time and space they needed to set up in the offensive zone and ended with Pasternak finding Skyler Bruce at the top of the right circle, and Bruce beating Kruger under the blocker arm to give Manitoba a 3-2 lead.
The Bisons held the fort for the remainder of the period to win 3-2 with Kieper making 31 saves in the win. With the win it's their highest point total since the 2017-18 season which Burnett said was proof that the group was trending in the right direction.
"I've only been here for three years. It's my third year. My first year, we had five wins. Last year we had eight. Now we have 11 with four games to go, and it's always for me, it's always about the process, and, we're going through this process together, and we're getting better as a group, and we're going to continue the process, we are nowhere near done."
The Bisons host the Regina Cougars next weekend at 'The Flem.
