The Lakehead Thunderwolves were edged 4-3 in a shootout by the Ottawa Gee Gees in front of 2635 fans at the Fort William Gardens on Friday night.
The Gee Gees got on the board early in the first period after Wolves goaltender Jeff Bosch made a couple of initial saves but was finally beaten by forward Andrew Creppin.
Ottawa increased its lead to 2-0 after a defensive breakdown in the Lakehead zone that Matt White took advantage of and fired the puck past Bosch.
Later in the opening frame, Lakehead cut the lead in half on the power play when Cody Alcock found a loose puck at the side of Ottawa goalie Robin Billingham and made no mistake. Assists on the goal were credited to Jake Carrick and Andrew Wilkins.
In the second period, Ottawa took a 3-1 lead on a 5-on-3 power play when defenseman Mathieu Leduc walked in from the blue line and blasted a shot over Bosch.
Early in the third period, Mike Quesnele ripped a hard slap-shot that knocked the water bottle off the Gee Gees net and pulled the Thunderwolves to within one. The lone assist was credited to Mike Hammond.
With Wolves forward Carson Dubchak all alone on the doorstep, Billingham made a huge save to rob him of a goal.
Lakehead tied the game midway through the third on a mad scramble near the Ottawa goal. Three Thunderwolves were all banging at the loose puck before it snuck past Billingham. Captain Andrew Wilkins was credited with the goal and Cody Alcock and Keith Grondin got the assists.
Lakehead controlled most of the play in the overtime period, but were unable to capitalize. In the shootout, Ottawas Rock Regimbald scored to secure the 4-3 win for the Gee Gees.
The Molson 3 Stars of the game were:
1st Star Matt White, Ottawa
2nd Star Jeff Bosch, Lakehead
3rd Star Andrew Wilkins, Lakehead
Both teams are back in action Saturday night at the Fort William Gardens with the opening face-off set for 7:30.