EDMONTON, AB - Leading by one entering the third period, the road Manitoba Bisons pulled away with a dominant third period in a 5-2 win over the Alberta Pandas in Game 1 of their Canada West Quarter-Final series. 

Leading 3-1 midway through the second, a late Pandas goal gave the hosts some life entering the third. However the Bisons put their foot on the pedal in the final frame, out-shooting the Pandas 10-5, with two empty net goals securing a playoff-opening victory. 

"Being up by one goal, the key was having a deliberate and committed effort to make simple and direct plays," said Bisons head coach Jordan Colliton. "We made sure to get pucks behind them, knowing the further the puck is away from our net, the harder it is for them to score, gain speed and move in transition." 

Brenna Nicol, Julia Bird, Lousie Fergusson, and Sadie Keller scored for the Bisons, to go along with both 18 saves an being credited with an empty net goal for starting goalie Emily Shippam. 

Ryann Perrett and Hayleigh Craig scored for the Pandas, who will now need back-to-back wins over Manitoba to earn a spot in the conference semifinal. Mackenzie Dojahn made 22 saves on 25 Bisons shots in her playoff debut for the Pandas. 

Nicol scored early for the Bisons, beating Dojahn from distance. Manitoba was the better team early, out-shooting Alberta 5-0. 

"Part of our identity is putting pressure on the other team. Constant relentless pressure, and I felt like we did that in the first five minutes," said Colliton of their quick start. 

The Pandas clawed back, with Perrett tying the game at 1-1 after tipping in a point shot from Annie King on a Pandas powerplay. 

Bird restored the Bisons lead early in the second, as her shot was redirected in off a Pandas stick and past Dojahn. Fergusson doubled the lead late in the frame, scoring another powerplay goal for Manitoba off a rebound in the slot. 

Craig cut into the Manitoba lead just two minutes later, banging in a rebound past the pad of Shippam. 

It was all Manitoba in the third, who peppered Dojahn with quality shots. With the goalie pulled, a Hailey Carothers shot was turned aside by Shippam, with the rebound going 200-feet into the Pandas net. Keller added a second empty netter 40 seconds later. 

Alberta will host Game 2 tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. MT at Clare Drake Arena, needing back-to-back wins to advance to the CW Semifinal.