CALGARY – The Manitoba Bisons scored three goals in 107 seconds in the first period, earning their first win in defence of the Canada West championship 5-1 over the University of Calgary Dinos Friday night at the Olympic Oval.

BOX SCORE

The win improves the Bisons to 1-2 on the season, while Calgary falls to 1-4 with the teams set to face off again Saturday night.

Manitoba scored three goals on its first five shots, chasing Calgary netminder Katie Urness from the game just 8:48 into the contest.

“They had three goals on their first five or six shots and that's just not acceptable, but that's not just the goalie's fault,” said Calgary head coach Danielle Goyette. “Before they get to the goalie they have five players they need to go through and I don't think as a team we were ready. We haven't shown up in the first period all season, and it has cost us the game several times.

“We were 25 and 60 on face-offs tonight, and that means you're chasing the puck a lot. I just don't think we're focused yet, and it's time we showed that we have some talent too and we can win some games. It's up to me and our assistant coaches to show them now what we need to do to get better.”

Caitlin MacDonald opened the scoring for Manitoba on the power play near the 13 minute mark of the period. Just 45 seconds later the Dinos couldn't seem to get out of their own zone and the Bisons struck again off Addie Miles' stick, and 15 seconds after that the Dinos found themselves shorthanded for the second time on the night.

Nellie Minshull converted on the Bisons' second power play of the evening at 8:48, and Goyette made the switch from Urness to rookie Jennifer Mallard. Manitoba managed just six shots on goal in the first period, with three of them finding their way into the cage.

Calgary played a much better second period despite being outshot by a 12-3 margin, with Cait O'Hara registering the Dinos' lone goal of the night early in the frame. Mallard was solid between the pipes for Calgary, turning aside all 12 shots she faced in the second period and 21 of the 23 sent her way on the night.

Manitoba iced the victory with two more in the third period, with Minshull scoring her second of the night in the opening minute while Tammy Brade added a fifth Bison marker with just under three minutes left.

MacDonald added a pair of assists to her goal on the night, while Brade also had a multiple-point night with a goal and a helper. Becca King, Amy Lee, and Amy Coates each chipped in with a pair of assists as well.

The Bisons made the Dinos pay dearly for penalties on the night, going 3-for-5 with the extra attacker while the Dinos struggled to even register shots on their five power plays. The defending conference champs outshot Calgary by a 28-13 margin on the night.

The two teams go at it one more time Saturday night, with face-off set for 7:30 p.m. at the Olympic Oval.

-UC-