London, Ont. – The Western Mustangs played their lone game of the weekend Saturday night. The contest pitted the Mustangs against the Lakehead University Thunderwolves. The game served as a homecoming for Western, who is coming off a triumphant three-game road trip that resulted in three straight victories. Two of those wins came against the Thunderwolves.
The first half of the first period yielded no scoring plays and not many chances for either side. Both teams seemed to be feeling each other out as sloppy play plagued the ice. As one may expect from two teams playing each other for the third time in the last week, the play was also very physical.
The Thunderwolves broke the ice 11:57 into the period when a sharp-angled shot found its way into the net. The goal gave Lakehead the lead, but there was still plenty of time to play.
The Mustangs would have a chance to respond shortly after, as a Thunderwolves player was sent to the box, giving Western the first powerplay opportunity of the game. The high-sticking call drew blood, extending it to a four-minute chance with the extra man.
The Western powerplay got off to a rough start, unable to find it's footing in the offensive zone during the first two minutes. Finally, the Mustangs gained the zone, and kept it there. The puck was nearly mishandled at the blue line. While Thunderwolves converged on the loose puck, a Mustang corralled it and sent it to an open Kenny Huether. Huether buried a one-timer to tie the game. Huether spoke about the goal after the game.
"We were on the powerplay, and it wasn't looking too great at first. Have to capitalize on those, and luckily we found a way to get the puck in a scoring area, and just bang it home. Olynek made a great pass."
Shortly after, Western got into penalty trouble of their own, as Lakehead University went to an extended 5-on-3 powerplay.
The Thunderwolves generated a healthy amount of chance but did not convert. The successful kills swung the momentum in Western's favour, as the Mustangs earned two grade-A scoring chances directly following the penalties.
From there, both teams traded high-threat scoring opportunities with Western getting the better end of the action. Still, neither team could find the back of the net. This would persist throughout the rest of the second period as the teams went to the locker room tied at one goal apiece.
Western took their first lead of the game early in the third period on a goal from Austin Osmanski from the point.
Neither team found much luck on offence from there, as the game stagnated in a tight-checking affair. The Mustangs held onto the lead with just two minutes left when the Thunderwolves pulled their goalie.
With 54 seconds remaining, the Thunderwolves found the back of the net to tie the game. The goal would send the heated contest into overtime.
After a couple of unsuccesful chances for the Mustangs, Lakehead University would score the game-winning goal on the powerplay with just two minutes left to play in overtime. Despite the loss, Head Coach Clarke Singer had positive words for the recent play of the team after the game.
"We're paying a lot more attention to detail now, especially in our defensive game. Our offensive game has come along too, even though it didn't show as much tonight. We're moving in the right direction. There's always stuff to work on but we're getting there."
The Mustangs will try to continue moving in that direction next Wednesday as they take on the University of Toronto in London.
