The No. 6 Lakehead Thunderwolves beat the Windsor Lancers Saturday night 4-3, in an exciting hard-fought game at the Windsor Arena. Bryan Duce scored the game winner for Lakeheadwith only 37 seconds left in the third period. Lakehead lifts its record to 10-3 in conference play and 15-7-2 overall. Windsor's record is now 5-7-1 in conference play and 5-12-1 overall.
The fast skating Lancers gave Lakehead all they could handle in this battle of OUA Far West Division opponents. Lakehead's OUA No. 1 ranked powerplay was lethal again, notching 2 of 4 Thunderwolves goals. Lakehead was lead by Mike Jacobsen and Chris Shaffer with a goal and an assist each, and Robert Hillier added two assists. Jason Melo lead the Lancers with a goal and an assist. Both goaltenders were sharp, and Windsor's Kevin Rivest played an especially strong game, turning away many dangerous Lakehead scoring chances.
The first period was a very tight checking affair and Windsor played a strong defensive style that stymied the Thunderwolves potent offense for much of the period. A Robert Hillier penalty proved costly to the Thunderwolves. Windsor's Jason Melo scored on the powerplay at 11:46, when he tipped in a shot from the point by Kyle Voy, the other assist going to Dan Murell. Windsor goaltender Rivest was very solid in the Lancer's goal, stopping a couple of dangerous Lakehead scoring chances. Lakehead outshot Windsor 11-10 in the first.
The second period saw both teams pick up the pace. Lakehead's leading scorer Chris Shaffer notched his 14th goal of the season to even up the score at 4:54 of the second on the powerplay. Joel Scherban sent a pass from the sideboards to Shaffer in the slot who rifled the puck past Windsor's Rivest. The other assist went to Mike Jacobsen. Windsor jumped back in the lead at 8:24, when Ty Magotiaux knocked in a rebound, assisted by Jason Melo and Jeffrey Morrison. Lakehead's Grant McCune then made two great saves at the 9:00 mark off Windsor's Kyle Trudell, who had three cracks at the puck in front of the Lakehead net, firing the third chance wide. Windsor's Rivest then made a fine save off Lakehead's Scherban at 10:35. Lakehead's Murray Magill tied it on the powerplay at 15:35, set up by lovely passing from Robert Hillier and Wyatt Tunnicliffe. Lakehead had the edge in play in the second and outshot Windsor 19-7 in the second.
The Lancers came out hard in the third and Windsor Captain Stu Vandergeest made it 3-2 at 4:07 of the third, captializing on a Lakehead turnover at their own blue line. Vandergeest intercepted the errant pass, then turned and used the Lakehead defenseman as a screen, firing a hard wrist shot that beat McCune. Lakehead then turned up the heat on the Lancers. Windsor's Rivest made a great save off Lakehead sniper Shaffer at 10:35 to keep the Lancer's lead at one. But, Mike Jacobsen blasted a shot from the blue line at 11:09 that beat Rivest top corner to tie the score at three. Assists went to Mark Robinson and Robert Hillier. Lakehead then almost took the lead when Rivest robbed Bryan Duce. Rivest then made another good save off a hard shot from Matt Kenny, followed by another save off Erik Lodge. Rivest then made a great stacked pad save off Lakehead's Jacobsen at 13:52. Lakehead's Chris Shaffer gave Lakehead the lead when he made a great backhand pass from behind the Windsor goal to Bryan Duce in the slot at 19:23. Duce then ripped a wicked wrist shot that beat Rivest. Windsor pulledRivest after Duce's goal andhad the puck in the Thunderwolves end in the last 10 seconds but couldn't notch the tying goal. Lakehead outshot 9-7 in the third periodand 39-24 in the game.
The teams play again Sunday afternoon at 3:30 at the Adie Knox Arena in the second game of the two game series.