The Lakehead Thunderwolves battled back from an early 3-0 deficit, but their comeback bid fell just short as they were edged 5-4 by the Manitoba Bisons before 1714 fans at the Fort William Gardens on Saturday night.
Manitoba struck for two quick goals before the game was seven minutes old on markers from Kamerin Nault and Jonah Wasylak, and when Brad Bowles beat Lakehead goalie Devin Green from in close just 19 ticks into the second period, things looked dire for the Wolves.
But Lakehead responded swiftly and got on the board when Cody Alcock blasted the puck past Bisons netminder Justin Paulic with the Wolves on the power play 16 seconds later. Linden Springer was credited with the assist.
Lakehead took advantage of another power play opportunity late in the period when Tyler Antons blistering slap shot from the point closed the gap to 3-2 heading into the third.
Nault put Manitoba up 4-2 on a quick wrist shot from the slot that eluded Green on his glove side at 6:38 of the final stanza, but an unassisted goal by Springer at 13:12 narrowed the Bisons lead to 4-3.
The Thunderwolves power play unit struck again with 4:30 remaining when Kelin Ainsworth roofed a shot from a sharp angle to tie the game at 4-4, with Alcock and Dylan Butler getting the helpers.
Just over a minute later, Manitobas Brad Bowles fired the puck past Green from the doorstep to steal the Wolves mojo and put the Bisons back on top.
Lakehead lifted Green for an extra attacker in the waning moments of the game, but the Thunderwolves were unable to convert and Manitoba held on for the win.
The Thunderwolves were 3-for-7 on the power play, while the Bisons went 0-for-6.
Total shots on goal for the game were 26 aside.
The Molson three stars of the game were:
1.Cody Alcock, Lakehead
2.Kamerin Nault, Manitoba
3.Tyler Anton, Lakehead
The Wolves homestand will continue next weekend when they host the Windsor Lancers to kick-off their OUA regular season.