The University of Regina men's hockey team scored three goals in the third period but the Manitoba Bisons matched them, holding on for a 5-4 win over the visiting Cougars on Saturday afternoon.

Ian McNulty (pictured) scored his third and fourth goals of the season and assisted on a Colton Sparrow marker, while Cody Fowlie had a goal and a helper in the loss.

Rene Hunter, Lee Christensen, Kamerin Nault, Adam Henry and Shaq Merasty all found the net for the Bisons, while Remi Laurencelle, Brad Bowles, Nick Zajac and Brett Stovin each had two assists for the home team.

McNulty opened the scoring at the 7:45 minute of the first period, but Hunter and Christensen replied before the end of the frame, giving the Bisons a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.

The floodgates opened after a scoreless second period, with McNulty striking on the powerplay just 2:19 into the third. Nault scored his first of the season to put Manitoba back on top and Henry extended the lead at the 15:01 mark. Fowlie drew the Cougars within a goal with an outstanding individual effort just 42 seconds later but Merasty restored the two-goal lead 37 seconds after that.

Sparrow's third of the season came with the Cougar net empty to make it 5-4, but Regina couldn't find the equalizer in the remaining 59 seconds. 

Dawson MacAuley was stellar in net for the Cougars, stopping 41 shots as Regina drops to 3-14-1. Justin Paulic got the win for the Bisons, making 32 saves on 36 Cougar shots.

The Cougars will be on the road again next weekend, traveling to Edmonton to face off with the Alberta Golden Bears.