The Lakehead Thunderwolves are one loss away from a second-straight first-round ouster from the OUA playoffs.
The Wolves on Wednesday blew a 4-1 second-period lead, allowing the host Guelph Gryphons to storm back with four unanswered goals to pull a stunning upset on the opening day of postseason play with a 5-4 triumph.
Thunder Bay's Justin Gvora netted the equalizer at 1:23 of the third and five minutes later Jon Thomas MacDonald potted the winner, his third goal of the game, to give the Gryphons a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.
MacDonald scored the game's first goal, at 2:29 of the first to give Guelph a lead that stood until the 13:41 mark of the opening period when Devin Welsh tied. Four minutes later Thomas Frazee pushed the Wolves in front, then 39 seconds after that Jake Carrick made it 3-1 Lakehead.
Ryan Magill scored LU's fourth goal 6:47 in the second. Kris Belan stopped the bleeding on the power play with six minutes to go in the middle stanza.
Alex Dupuis stopped just 14 of 19 shots before being pulled in favour of Jeff Bosch, who was perfect on three shots.
Cody St. Jacques earned the win for the Gryphons, stopping 24 shots.
Game 2 is slated for Friday night at Fort William Gardens at 7:30 pm. Game 3, if necessary, goes Saturday.
In other OUA playoff action Wednesday, Ottawa beat Nippissing 5-2, McGill edged Queen's 3-2, Carleton routed Toronto 6-2 and Ryerson upset UQTR 9-2.
