London, ON - Despite out chancing the Nipissing Lakers on Saturday night throughout all three periods, the Mustangs lost their second game of the weekend against the Lakers 6-1.
 
The Mustangs showed a solid net presence throughout the first period, causing Nipissing's goalie to make huge saves. Also, they were creating good passing sequences that set up some strong goal-scoring opportunities.
 
Western outshot Nipissing 18-10 throughout twenty minutes but trailed by two heading into the first intermission. The Lakers had three real goal-scoring opportunities in the period and were able to capitalize on two of them.
 
"The effort is always there. I thought we managed and controlled most of the first period and then made three bad puck plays from which they scored two goals," Said Mustangs Assistant Coach Patrick Ouellet. "That team is playing smart and is waiting for their chances. They know who they are and aren't trying to do something that is not in their identity."
 
Nipissing went up 3-0 fifty-one seconds into the second period. They then scored a fourth goal not too long after.
 
The Mustangs had trouble breaking out through the neutral zone and stringing passes together.
 
"We have to manage the puck better. Said Ouellet. "we know that's what we need to do, but it seems like sometimes we play well for a bit, and then the goals don't come for whatever reason, and as soon as we go a period without a goal, it seems like we start to force things and want to do too much and it ends up in the back of our net."
 
The Mustangs got on the board just over halfway through the game. A face of win was passed back to Drew Wawrow, who then shot it from the blue line. The puck was then tipped in front by Tye McSorely to record his fourth of the year and Western's first of the night.
 

M?? MUSTANGS GOAL
Drew Wawrow's shot from the blue line is tipped in by Tye McSorely to get the Mustangs on the board.

?? McSorley (4) from Wawrow & MacDougall at 12:22

WES l 1
NIP l 4#RunWithUs #WesternMustangs #WESvsNIP pic.twitter.com/SiIw0GSzOc

— Western Mustangs (@WesternMustangs) January 14, 2024

A Nipissing powerplay late in the period led to the Lakers fifth goal of the competition.
 
Western had some good offensive zone time in the third period but was unable to capitalize.  
 
Nipissing scored their sixth goal of the evening towards the end of the period to make the score 6-1, giving them a four-point weekend in London.
 
The Mustangs will play a rare Thursday night game next week against the Brock Badgers in St Catherines. The puck drop will be at 6 PM on Thursday (Jan 18). Fans can watch the action on OUA.tv