Box Score Box Score

Six different University of Manitoba players scored in the Bisons' 6-3 win over the Regina Cougars on Friday night in a Canada West men's hockey game at The Co-operators Centre.

The win keeps Manitoba (17-6-4) in second place in the Canada West standings, one point ahead of third-place Saskatchewan (18-8-1) which also won on Friday night.

Manitoba got goals from Brodie Melnychuk, Dane Crowley, Darren Bestland, Del Cowan, Ian Duval, and Dylan Kelly, while Matthew Lowry and James Henry both collected a pair of assists and Jesse Deckert made 13 saves between the pipes for the Bisons.

The Cougars replied with goals from Ward Szucki, Ryan Sawka, and Troy Hunter.

Manitoba peppered Cougar goalie Andrew Hayes all night long, as the Bisons outshot the Cougars by a 15-5 margin in the first period and – incredibly – the opening frame turned out to be the least busy for the U of R's second-year netminder. Manitoba had a 20-3 advantage in shots in the second and fired 24 shots in the third period alone, ending up outshooting Regina 59-16 for the game with Hayes turning aside 53 of them.

Manitoba ended up 3-for-9 on the power play as Crowley, Bestland, and Duval all scored with the Bisons enjoying a man advantage. Szucki's goal in the first period was scored on a 5-on-4 as the Cougars finished 1-for-4 on the power play for the game.

The two teams will finish off the Canada West schedule on Saturday with a rare afternoon game that will start at 2:30 p.m. at The Co-operators Centre.

NOTES: The Cougars will hit the road next weekend for the Canada West quarterfinals against whichever one of Manitoba or Saskatchewan finishes in third place ... the U of R will face Saskatchewan in the postseason if Manitoba completes the weekend sweep on Saturday ... if the Cougars defeat Manitoba on Saturday, the battle for second place will be decided by Saskatchewan's result against Lethbridge.