Friday the 13th proved anything but frightful for the Manitoba Bisons, as they stormed back from a 2-1 deficit to beat the Calgary Dinos 3-2 in overtime. Dana Goertzen scored the overtime winner on a beautiful one hand tuck just around Amelia Awad's outstretched pad. The win vaulted the Bisons into the Canada West playoffs, coupled with the Saskatchewan Huskies falling to the Mount Royal Cougars.
The Bisons fought back from a 2-1 deficit after the second period, led by a game-tying power play goal by Aimee Patrick on her tenth of the season, seven minutes into the third period off a sweet feed by Norah Collins. The Dinos power play finally ran cold in the third after two goals in the second period, as the vaunted Bisons penalty kill returned to form in the third, saving the game.
Goertzen, Patrick, and Julia Bird led the way for the Bisons offense, which despite rock solid goaltending by Awad in the Calgary crease, overpowered the Dinos. Calgary's Hannah Reagh and Evelyn Lawrence tallied the power play markers for the Dinos, a unit that at times looked like it would be too much for the Bisons to handle.
Both teams came out in the first playing end to end hockey. The Bisons struck just 75 seconds into the contest on a Julia Bird goal, her 11th of the season, after a couple in tight chances couldn't be corralled by Calgary goaltender Amelia Awad. Awad was solid the rest of the period, turning away two separate chances from Hanna Bailey at the point, as well as strong chances from Goertzen and Julia Bilous. Awad's best save of the period came on a long lead play to Bird, which saw Bird streak in and nearly double the Bison lead.
At the other end, blocked shots ruled the day, as Bison goaltender Emily Shippam had plenty of help from her teammates, including two big blocks on the Calgary power play, one from Sadie Keller and one from Brenna Nicol. Shippam's best save came at the 11-minute mark of the period on a back door pass that required a cross-crease save to maintain the Bisons lead.
The opening minutes of the second period were all Bisons, starting with a power play just 90 seconds in after a Caitlyn Perlinger roughing penalty. Patrick rang one off the crossbar and Brenna Nicol was robbed on a big glove save, and the Bisons couldn't capitalize on the power play. Awad was sensational all the way through the period, frustrating the Bisons consistent offensive attack that saw all of Keller, Sara Harbus, Sophia Heidinger, and Goertzen stopped on dangerous scoring chances.
The Dinos power play was firing on all cylinders, as they took full advantage of both their power play opportunities in the second stanza, first with a rebound tucked away in tight by Hannah Reagh for her fifth of the season, followed by Evelyn Lawrence with a beautiful tip
in front of the net for her seventh of the season in the dying moments, giving the Dinos their first lead of the hockey game.
The third period saw both goalies take turns keeping their respective teams alive. Awad made a critical save on Norah Collins off the rush, and then an equally impressive save on the resulting rebound. Awad was also saved by a stroke of luck, as Claire Moorman rang one off the crossbar after a Dino deflection. The Bisons timely penalty kill on a Bilous interference penalty gave the Bisons the jolt they needed, with Patrick finding paydirt on the power play and ultimately forcing overtime.
With the playoff pressure off the Bisons going into Saturday's action, attention turns to celebrating the six graduating players on the team – Emily Shippam, Julia Bird, Brenna Nicol, Aimee Patrick, Jessica Haner, and Hanna Bailey. First faceoff at Wayne Fleming Arena is at 2:00 p.m. for the Valentine's Day matinee to close out the Canada West regular season.
