Guelph, Ont — Christiano Aiello scored three times, including two power-play goals, as the Western Mustangs stormed back from a first-period deficit to defeat the Guelph Gryphons 6-4 on Thursday night in their second-last game of the regular season.

Western trailed 2–0 after the first 20 minutes. But the second period completely shifted the momentum.

At 10:09, Western broke through on the power play. Aiello scored his first of the night, finishing a setup from Zach Power and Eric Van Impe to cut the lead to 1. Just 32 seconds later, the Mustangs struck again. Drew Wawrow converting on another power play at 10:41 off feeds from Brett Willits and Owen Saye, tying the game 2–2.

Western's special teams continued to drive the comeback in the third.

At 2:52, Aiello buried his second of the night on the man advantage, assisted by Yearwood and Lawson Sherk, giving the Mustangs their first lead at 3-2. The power play finished the night 3-for-5, a difference-maker in a tight contest.

Aiello completed the hat trick at 8:14, scoring at even strength off another strong passing sequence from Sherk and Power, pushing the lead to 4–2.

Guelph answered with a power-play goal at 9:17 to make it 4–3, but Western stayed composed and continued to press. 

With the Gryphons pressing, Zach Power scored into the empty net at 18:57, assisted by Aidan Prueter and Van Impe. Eric Van Impe added another empty-net goal at 19:59 to secure the 6–4 win.

Guelph added a late goal at 19:48, but it wasn't enough.

The Mustangs wrap up the season Saturday, Feb. 14, with a 7 p.m. road matchup against the York Lions in Toronto.