CALGARY – After a disappointing road trip in Saskatchewan, the Calgary Dinos will look for a turnaround as the Manitoba Bisons come to town for a pair of games at the Olympic Oval.

The Dinos are seeing their first action after dropping both games to the Saskatchewan Huskies in 3-1 and 4-3 decisions. That sweep drops the Dinos' record to 6-4, good enough for second spot in Canada West behind the 6-2 Huskies.

Manitoba is currently third in Canada West with a 5-3 record. This is due partly to a four-game winning streak that has seen the Bisons outscore their opposition, Lethbridge and Regina, 28-1 over four games.

Last weekend the Dinos saw an equal mix of scoring coming from veterans and rookies with veterans Tanya Morgan and Elana Lovell3 sharing the scoresheet with freshmen Kira Sonnenberg and Erika Mitschke#. Of those four scorers Lovell has had the largest impact this season, notching five goals and five assists over a ten-game span.

The Dinos' leading scorer, Hayley Wickenheiser, will miss her second straight series this weekend as she skates for Team Canada at the Four Nations Cup in St. John's, N.L. She still leads Canada West scoring with 19 points over eight games.

The Bisons scorers have not put up as strong numbers individually this season but have a large number of threats in the offensive department.

Their leading scorer is Nellie Minshull who has found the back of the net six times and assisted twice for an eight point campaign. Addie Miles has made a similar contribution in the assist category notching six helpers as well as a couple of goals. Tammy Brade is right behind them with seven points, three goals and four assists.

On the goaltending front the Bisons have fund success from both rookie netminder Leitte Klassen as well as veteran Tara Lacquette. Klassen has had a relatively successful start after winning two starts, both with shutouts, and losing a third. She currently has a 1.34 goals-against average to go with a .942 save percentage. Lacquette is having a similar campaign with three wins and two losses under her belt. The veteran is currently maintaining a 1.61 GAA and a.928 save percentage with her own two shutouts.

The Dinos will likely counter with Amanda Tapp who has gotten all but one start for Calgary this season. Tapp currently leads the league in shutouts with three and despite last week's defeats is still riding high statistically with a 1.76 GAA and a .927 save percentage.

Puck drops at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights at the Olympic Oval.

The Dinos get a by next week and will host the Regina Cougars Nov. 26-27 to close out their pre-Christmas schedule.

-UC-