WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Bisons accomplished goal number one Friday evening, as they clinched a Canada West playoff spot, doubling up the visiting Calgary Dinos, 4-2.
BOX SCORE
The Herd improve their record to 12-8-5 and continue on to the playoffs for the second consecutive season under the guidance of head coach Don MacGillivray. Manitoba has 29 points, good for third spot, three points behind the Saskatchewan Huskies. Meanwhile the Dinos are still struggling to climb back into a playoff position with a record of 8-14-1. They trail the UBC Thunderbirds by a single point for the sixth and final playoff spot.
Manitoba got goals from Jared Walker, Myles Rumsey, Mike Hellyer and Rick Wood while Steve Christie made 32 saves to pick up the win. Christie has started all 25 games the Bisons have played in the regular season.
Dan Ehrman and Brett O'Malley scored for Calgary. Jeff Weber turned aside 21 shots in goal for the Dinos.
Calgary opened the scoring at 10:37 of the opening period. On the power play, Brock Nixon worked the puck along the goal line and threw it out in front where a deep-pinching Ehrman banged in the loose puck. It was Ehrman's second of the season.
Walker tied the game for the Bisons after he was sprung by a perfect tape-to-tape pass by Riley Dudar. Walker split the Dinos defense and then wired a shot past Weber for his eighth of the year at 1:05 of the middle frame.
The Dinos quickly regained the lead less then two minutes later off O'Malley 13 goal at 2:43. Before the close of the second period, Manitoba pulled even when Rumsey scored his first goal of season. From the left of the net, Rumsey's shot may of hit a defenseman in front, but nonetheless it wound up in the back of the net at 18:00.
Manitoba gained the first lead of the game 31 seconds into the third period while they were shorthanded. Hellyer drove to the net and managed to tap in his own rebound for his sixth goal. Rick Wood added a late goal at 17:41 to quell any chance of a Calgary comeback.
Game two of the weekend series is set to go Saturday evening at the Max Bell Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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