In a closely contested match, the Lakehead Thunderwolves edged the RMC Paladins 2-1 at the Constantine Arena in Kingston, Ontario on Friday night.
The Paladins came out strong and outshot the Wolves 16-10 in the first, but Lakeheads Carson Dubchak scored the only goal of the opening period on a short-handed marker assisted by Kelin Ainsworth 6:07 into the game.
Netminder Devin Green was outstanding in the Wolves goal, and Paladins back-stopper Matthew Murphy played a solid game as well.
John Livingston knotted the score at 1-1 when he converted on an RMC power play just 1:03 into the second period, and the Paladins outshot Lakehead 10-4 in the middle frame.
The Thunderwolves controlled most of the play in the third, firing 14 shots at Murphy while RMC replied with only 6 in the final stanza.
With strong goaltending at both ends of the ice, it looked like the game was headed into overtime, but Lakeheads Evan Mignault broke the deadlock after being set up by Grant Valiquette and Billy Jenkins with only 43 seconds remaining and the Wolves skated off with the win.
For the night, Lakehead went 0-for-3 on the power play, while RMC was 1-for-3.
Total shots on goal in the game were 32-28 in favor of the Paladins.
The win givesLakehead anOUA record of 5-4-1, and the Wolves will look to improve upon that mark when both teams square off again on Saturday night.