CALGARY – The Calgary Dinos persisted through late penalty trouble to hang on for a 4-3 win against the Manitoba Bisons at Father David Bauer Arena on Friday night.

Both teams played solid fast-paced hockey throughout, but it was the Dinos who came out on top once again with the help of their first line of Jared Aulin, Brett O’Malley, and team captain Ryan Annesley.

Aulin picked up two assists in the game, bringing his season total to 32 points in 14 games.

The Bisons started the scoring only 43 seconds in on the power play, as forward Kyle Howarth slapped a shot from the slot past Calgary goaltender Jeff Weber to put his team up 1-0.

The Dinos came slow out of the gates in the first period, turning the puck over multiple times on incoherent plays that provided the Bisons with early chances.  Weber remained solid in goal, stopping two separate scoring chances, and giving the Dinos a little bit of an offensive boost.

Calgary’s top line would soon turn the Dinos’ fortunes around at exactly eight minutes into the period, when Aulin would slide a pass over to Annesley, who used the defender as a screen to send a shot top net past Manitoba’s Krister Toews, putting the score at 1-1.

The Dinos would capitalize on their first power play of the game just over six minutes later.  Aaron Richards sent a solid pass across to Torrie Wheat who one-timed a rocket from the slot for the go-ahead marker.

Calgary coach Scott Atkinson commented on the team’s effort in the first frame.  “I felt it was our best period.  We made some defensive mistakes early, but we turned things around and ended it off strong,” he said.

Manitoba started the second period on their heels, as a rejuvenated Calgary team continued to put pressure on early.  The line of Teegan Moore, Dustin Hatlelid and Gary Sylvester kept up the pressure with physical play both in the Bisons’ zone and on defense.

The Bisons nearly evened up the score though, as a loose puck came to defender Rob Smith with Weber out of position, but luckily Calgary defender Adam Redmond slid across the net to prevent the puck from reaching the wide open net.

The Dinos added one more in the second, as O’Malley notched his thirteenth of the season seconds after the Dinos killed off their second penalty of the game, taking a feed from Aulin and tipping a shot past Toews.

O’Malley’s celebration would be short-lived though, as he would give the puck away in the defensive zone on the following shift, allowing Richard Wood to put one past Weber to make it 3-2 Dinos.

Manitoba’s best chance of the period came when forward Chris Falloon would take a mid-ice pass to speed past a defender for the breakaway. Calgary goalie Jeff Weber came out for an aggressive poke-check, but ended up sliding into Falloon and getting called for the trip on the breakaway, leading to a penalty shot.  Weber would prevent the ensuing free shot, coming out again on the poke-check and cleanly knocking the puck away from Falloon.

The third period would begin with both teams exchanging goals, the first a Calgary goal in which Jevon Desautels converted a perfect feed in front from linemate Teegan Moore.

Atkinson also spoke on the fourth line that has stepped up for the Dinos. “They’ve been consistent and hardworking.  They play a physical game both on the defense and on offense,” he said.

Manitoba would come back with an unassisted goal by Chris Benias midway through the third, but the Bisons would be unable to pick up the extra goal despite two consecutive late man-advantages, ending the game at 4-3 Dinos.  Calgary forward Annesley nearly made it a 5-3 game, but rung a shot off the post just feet away from the empty net with seconds remaining.

The victory gives Calgary a four point advantage over Manitoba in Canada West, and secures a home advantage for the Dinos in the first round of the playoffs.

The two teams will face off again Saturday night at Father Bauer Arena before Calgary takes on the Alberta Golden Bears on Sunday for their last regular season home game.