GUELPH, Ont. – The Gryphons captured an important victory in the second half of their home-and-home series against the Western Mustangs after a 4-3 defeat of their rivals. Having lost to the Mustangs the night before, the Gryphs looked to rebound in their first return to home ice after two and a half months. With a playoff spot just one point out of reach and the home crowd cheering them on once more, the team pulled out an impressive win highlighted by an undefeated Gryphon penalty kill.

It was a chippy match of back-to-back man advantages as multiple minors, majors and game misconducts were dolled out by the refs. Halfway through the first period the Mustangs would gain a two-man advantage after both Gryphons Liam Ham and Cole Cameron would head to the box for kneeing calls just seconds apart. Goaltender Colton Incze kept the match scoreless with some impressive saves as the Gryphons penalty kill put in work. With the Mustangs 5 on 3 power play winding down, it would be the Gryphons who would draw blood first off an unassisted shorthanded goal from third-year winger Zach Roberts. The 1-0 lead wouldn't last long as the Mustangs responded four minutes later with a goal from their captain Kyle Pettit with 1:15 left in the first period. With under a minute to go, team captain Ted Nichol fired it home on his backhand to put the Gryphs back up by one. With the captains trading goals, the teams would head to the second with Guelph leading 2-1. 

The second period saw more penalties as the Mustangs gained the man advantage early with last period's goal scorer Ted Nichol heading to the box. The Gryphs penalty kill was on fire tonight, putting in an outstanding performance where they managed to kill off all of the Mustang's seven power plays. Unfortunately for the Gryphons, their power play continued to struggle. They failed to convert on any of their five chances this match including a five-minute major. 

Fourth-year winger Ted McGeen would provide the Gryphs with some insurance early in the second. After having his first attempt was waved off, he netted his fourth goal of the season to put the Gryphons up by two. McGeen would be the Gryphon's lone scorer in the second period as the team headed to the third with the lead.

The third period mirrored that of the last as the Mustangs would once again go on the man advantage and fail to convert. As first-period scorer Zach Roberts flew out of the box for the Gryphons, he managed a shot on goal that was quickly scooped up by fourth-year winger Connor Bramwell who sent home the rebound for his 5^th of the season. Halfway through the final period, the Mustangs would come back to score two goals to cut the Gryphon lead down to one with five minutes left in the contest. Goaltender Colton Incze would face an onslaught of Mustang shot attempts but would shut the door on the 4-3 regulation win for the Gryphons.

The team's record improves to 2-6-1 with tonight's win. They sit just outside of the playoff race with 1 point separating them and the 4^th place Laurier Golden Hawks who defeated the Windsor Lancer tonight to maintain their playoff spot. The men will next face off in a back-to-back road series against the Windsor Lancers on Friday Feb 18 at 7:30 and Saturday Feb 19 at 4pm. The Lancers currently sit in first place in the OUA Far West division.