GUELPH, Ont. - Despite rallying multiple times Thursday night at the Gryphon Centre, the Gryphons were unable to recover from a late third period goal as they fell 5-4 to the Western Mustangs. Although Guelph was able to keep majority of the play towards the Western end throughout the contest, it was ultimately penalty trouble that the Gryphons were unable to overcome in the end. A major penalty, as well as a four minute double-minor led to both of Western's goals in the final frame putting Guelph on the losing end.
In the beginning, the game couldn't have gotten off to a better start for the home side. Only 20 seconds into the contest, Ted Nichol sent in a long point-shot that found it's way through traffic and in to the back of the Western net. The quick goal got the Guelph faithful on their feet early providing plenty of noise in the Gryphon Centre. However, the noise was quickly quieted by the visitors. Only 47 seconds after Guelph opened the scoring, the Mustangs came right back and put home the equalizer tying the score 1-1. Western would then go on to strike two more times in the next 7:49 of the game, and all of sudden, the Gryphons 1-0 lead turned in to a 3-1 deficit.
Heading in to the second period of play, the Gryphons did not seem at all bothered to be trailing by two. Tilting the ice towards the Mustang's end, the Gryphons were able to go on the attack and put their high scoring offence to good use. Much like the opening frame, the Gryphons got themselves rolling quickly in the second. It took just 45 seconds for Mikkel Aagaard to bury his 10th goal of the season and pull Guelph within one. Then just over five minutes later, Marc Stevens let go of a hard slap-shot from the top of the left circle, hammering it past Western goalie Luke Peressini to tie the game.
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The two teams then remained tied heading to the final frame, despite the Gryphons out-shooting Western 27-17 after 40 minutes of play.
Early in the third, the Gryphons got called for a five-minute major slashing penalty, which helped Western re-take the lead. Again though, Guelph continued to show their resiliency. Shortly after the midway point of the period, Aagaard drove to the net looking for his second goal of the game, instead though it was Nichol who was able to jump on the loose puck and tally his second of the contest and tie the game 4-4. Unfortunately, penalty trouble would strike again for Guelph late in the third. With 2:04 to go in regulation, the Gryphons received a double-minor, which then led to Western taking the lead back, and this time for good. The Gryphons pushed despite being down a man to find the equalizer, but just weren't left with enough time.
"Unfortunately we are our own worst enemy some nights," said Gryphon's head coach Shawn Camp. "We've seen the best of us in the sense of when we meet some adversity we work really hard to pull ourselves right back in to it like we did tonight. We were able to tie it up 4-4, and get ourselves in a spot to try and win the game."
"We have to be a little bit more discipline in some areas and we will give ourselves a chance to win every night."
In the end, both teams fired 33 shots on goal, with Gryphon's goalie Andrew Masters making 28 saves.
Guelph finished 0 for 4 with the power-play, while the Mustangs went 2 for 4.
The Gryphons will now shift their focus to a Saturday home game. In just two days, Guelph will play host to the Brock Badgers as they look to get back in to the win column. Puck drop is set for 7:15 from the Gryphon Centre.
