CALGARY – The Manitoba Bisons rode a 25-save shutout by sophomore Joe Caligiuri and a pair of power play goals to down the Calgary Dinos 2-0 in the 2011-12 Canada West season-opener for both teams Friday night at Father David Bauer Arena.

BOXSCORE

Jared Walker and Blair Macaulay tallied for the Bisons with the man advantage, once in the first period and once in the third, as the visitors withstood three Calgary power plays in the first 15 minutes unscathed and giving up just one shot on goal through the first 15 minutes of the game.

After the Dinos managed just one shot on their first three power plays, the Bisons quickly converted on their lone opportunity in the first. With Teigan Zahn in the penalty box for Calgary, Manitoba's Tyler Dittmer drove to the goal and was stopped by Dustin Butler. The rebound bounced to the right side of the net, where Jared Walker had a gaping cage at which to shoot – and he made no mistake. It capped a first period where both teams came out tentatively, trying to find their legs, and Manitoba holding a 5-2 edge in shots.

Manitoba came out flying in the second, outshooting Calgary 8-0 at one point before the Dinos offence finally woke up. Calgary outshot the Bisons 8-3 in the second half of the period and had a couple of solid chances but couldn't get anything past Caligiuri. Colton Grant had the Dinos' best opportunity of the night when he batted a puck out of midair on the backhand in tight, but Caligiuri slid across the crease to his left and flashed the leather to deny the Calgary forward.

The Bisons put it away with their second tally of the night at the 5:08 mark of the third. Just eight seconds into another power play, Dane Crowley's pass found its way through a maze of skates to the waiting stick of Blair Macaulay. Macaulay's one-timer beat Butler top shelf blocker side.

The Dinos applied the pressure to Manitoba, outshooting the Bisons 12-8 in the final period, but the visitors' defensive shell kept them from getting any solid scoring chances. Tyler Fiddler had a couple of stabs at a loose puck in a scramble in the Manitoba crease for Calgary's best chance in the third, but once again Caliguri was up to the task.

The teams finished even on the shot clock with 25 apiece. Manitoba finished 2-for-7 on the power play, while the Dinos were unsuccessful on their four opportunities.

Manitoba (1-0) and Calgary (0-1) wrap up their season-opening series Saturday night back at Father David Bauer Arena. Puck drop goes at 7 p.m.

-UC-