Michael Kaye slips trying to dodge a Bison defender.

A quick nap nearly cost the Huskies men’s hockey team their second loss of the season this past weekend at Rutherford Rink.

Although they did come out with a 5-4 overtime win and 2-1 victory against the Manitoba Bisons on Nov. 4 and 5, respectively, the Bisons’ strong attack forced Saskatchewan to stay on its toes.

In the first game, the Huskies — despite scoring two quick tallies early in the first period — gave up four goals in the final 10 minutes of the opening frame.

Brendan Rowinski and Tyler Dittmer potted the first two for Manitoba while Matthew Lowry’s goal gave the Bisons the lead. Ian Duval would add Manitoba’s fourth with only two seconds remaining in the period.

“We went for a five minute snooze and they potted four on us late in the first,” said Saskatchewan forward Derek Hulak, but “we did a good job keeping our composure and battling back.”

Andrew Bailey of the Huskies tipped in a Zak Stebner point shot midway through the second frame to pull the Dogs within one. Michael Kaye would tie the game in the third.

In overtime, Hulak deked through two Bison defenders and buried the puck past Manitoba goaltender Joe Caligiuri.

“I was lucky enough to be out there with a couple good players at the end of the game to set me up for that overtime winner,” said Hulak.

Huskies goaltender David Reekie, who was shaky in the first period, did not allow a goal for the remainder of the game and made 36 saves in total. Caliguri stopped 27 shots.

The second game looked like it was going to mimic the first, as both teams scored early.

At 5:48 into the first frame, Kaye one-timed a Craig McCallum cross-ice pass hard into the bottom right corner of the Bison net. Five minutes later, Manitoba’s Del Cowan attacked the crease, pushing the puck past Huskies goaltender Ryan Holfeld just before the net slid off its moorings.

That would be it for the Bisons, however, as Holfeld shut down the remaining Manitoba pressure.

Huskie Kyle Bortis about to be shut down by Bison netminder Jesse Deckert.

“He was phenomenal,” added Hulak. “Holfeld stole the show for us tonight.”

Saskatchewan went up 2-1 early in the second frame after Bailey scored his second deflection goal of the weekend.

While Manitoba was relentless in their attempts to even the game up, coming with flurry after flurry of scoring chances, Holfeld remained on top of his game.

“I got a little lucky on a few shots from the point,” said Holfeld, adding that he was helped by his teammates blocking the Bisons’ shots. “Anytime that’s happening, it makes it a lot easier for me.”

Holfeld finished with 32 saves in the game while Bison netminder Jesse Deckert had 27.

The Huskies sit one point ahead of Alberta for first place in the conference.

The Huskies men’s and women’s teams are off this weekend but will be back in action Nov. 18 and 19. The men will travel to Calgary to face the Dinos while the women will host the Dinos at home.

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Photos: Raisa Pezderic/The Sheaf