Box Score GUELPH, Ont. – With 1:38 seconds left on the clock and the faceoff in the Mustangs' zone, it appeared as if Guelph was set to upset the Mustangs in the first round of the OUA West Playoffs and send the West Division's top seed packing.
 
But evidently Western blueliner Matt Paltridge had something else in mind.
 
The fourth year defenceman scored with 50 seconds left in the third period to tie the game at a goal apiece and force extra time, allowing Stefan Salituro to score the game-winner 6:24 into the second overtime at Gryphon Centre Arena in Guelph.  
 
The win ties the best-of-three series at a game apiece and pushes the series to a third and deciding game, which will be played on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. at Thompson Arena.
 
Josh Unice can take a large chunk of the credit for forcing the extra game, as he turned aside 40 shots in his duel with Guelph goalie Andrew Loverock, who responded with 37 saves. Paltridge has also answered the call so far in the playoffs, as he registered an assist in the first game to give him two points in as many games.
 
The first period was uneventful, with the two teams trading chances but finding themselves unable to break the deadlock. Western had the only power play opportunity of the period, failing to capitalize on a cross checking penalty to Steven Strong, but Guelph had the most chances in the period, outshooting the Mustangs 15-11.
 
The Mustangs flipped the narrative to start the second, outshooting the Gryphons 7-2 through the first 10 minutes of the frame. That trend continued through the final 10 minutes as well, with the Mustangs adding five more shots compared to Guelph's two. But once again neither team was able to find the net.
 
Guelph came up empty-handed on two power play opportunities in the period—their first two of the game—while the Mustangs failed to get on the board on their only power play of the period—a two minute boarding infraction to Nicklas Huard. After only managing to capitalize once on for opportunities on Thursday, the Mustangs entered the second intermission 1-6 in the playoffs.
 
With both goaltenders standing on their heads, the game headed to the third period with the score at 0-0 and the Mustangs' season on the line. And despite the fact that the Mustangs were outshooting their opponent by a decent margin—23 to 19—one couldn't help but feel that the game could swing either way in the final frame.
 
Then, with 8:14 off the clock in the third, the game finally swung. Unfortunately for Western, it was in Guelph's direction.
 
The Gryphons, already outshooting the Mustangs by a margin of 9-1 in the period, finally solved Unice with a goal off the stick of Robert De Fulviis. The rookie's goal, his first of his OUA career, came with assists from linemates Michael Charbonneau and Carlos Amestoy.
 
With time winding down in the third and the season beginning to slip away, the Mustangs stepped up their offence, registering six shots to decrease the large margin between the two teams. Then, with 50 seconds left in the third, Western closed the only margin that matters, as Paltridge ripped one home from the slot to stun the Guelph crowd.
 
After an exciting first overtime, Salituro sealed the deal in double overtime with a slap shot from the high slot, beating Loverock and sending the Mustangs over the bench. Salituro's goal was his second of the playoffs, as he also scored in the Mustangs' loss on Thursday.
 
Tomorrow's game is set to start at 7:00 p.m. at Thompson Arena with the winner advancing to the OUA West Semi-Finals which begin next week.