CALGARY -- The Manitoba Bisons scored twice in the opening period, controlling zone time for strong portions, while limiting a potent Mount Royal attack to just 16 shots in a 3-1 win on Saturday in game two of the Canada West quarterfinals. Game three goes tomorrow at 3 pm CT, with the winner advancing to the Canada West finals, and nationals in Waterloo.

Three different lines scored for Manitoba, with the game-winner coming in the final minute of the first period from Norah Collins, who tapped in a rebound following the initial shot from teammate Julia Bird.

Hanna Bailey got the scoring started with a snap shot that beat a screened Scout Anderson 11:05 into the contest, and Sadie Keller rounded things out with a wrist shot that went top shelf on a two-on-one in the second period. Mount Royal got on the score board just under midway through the third, but it was too little, too late.

"We simplified and stayed connected," said Bisons' head coach Jordan Colliton. "We wanted to set the table for the next line and have active changes and we did that well in the first two periods."

Manitoba's first goal was thanks in part to their steady play defensively. Shortly after killing an MRU power play, the Herd burst back the other way with numbers, keeping possession near the half wall. The puck eventually got to Aimee Patrick behind the net, and she sent a no-look back-hand pass to Bailey, who made no mistake with time, space and bodies in front.

It was Bailey's second goal of the playoffs, and fourth point in five post-season contests overall. 

Consistent zone time led to Manitoba's second goal as well.

In an extended shift, the puck wound up on the stick of Bird, who led Manitoba with 12 goals in the regular season. Two players migrated to the dangerous offensive playmaker, leaving Collins with no one around her for the rebound off her teammate's shot from in close. Collins tapped in the puck for her second goal of the post-season.

Keller concluded the scoring for Manitoba, finishing off a brilliant play that began, once again, because of excellent work defensively from the Herd. Forcing the Cougars to the outside, the hosts eventually turned the puck over, with Brenna Nicol delivering an excellent lead pass to Jessie Haner, who sprung in on a two-on-one with Keller.

Haner tapped the puck to her teammate, who fired home a wrister for her third goal of the playoffs, tying for the team lead with Nicol, whose seven points leads all skaters in the post-season.

"That was one of our keys today. Deny the netfront, deny the middle of the ice," added Colliton of Manitoba's suffocating presence defensively. "I thought we did a good job blocking shots and keeping them to the outside."