Mired in the midst of a five-game losing streak, the Lakehead Thunderwolves were in desperate need of a hot start.
They got it, but also gave away a four-goal lead to an equally desperate Waterloo Warriors squad. It took an NHL-calibre goal from Kelin Ainsworth to eke out a 6-4 win that secured no worse than a third-place OUA West finish for a slumping Thunderwolves squad that had lost five straight coming into the contest.
Mike Hammond scored a pair of first-period goals and later added three assists for LU, who improved 16-8-3. The Warriors, at 12-12-3, remain a point on the wrong side of a playoff berth, trailing eighth-place Guelph.
The Wolves can secure second place and home ice through the first two rounds of the post-season with a win in Saturday night’s Fort William Gardens rematch, combined with a Windsor loss in either regulation or overtime. The Wolves can also take the No. 2 seed if they pick up a point and Windsor falls to Ryerson in regulation.
“We got a turnover and I just kind of waited him out and it worked out,” said Ainsworth, who added an empty netter to seal the win with a minute to go.
Blowing leads has become far too common, the NCAA transfer added. It’s something that’s got to stop and soon, with the first playoff game scheduled for Wednesday on the road.
“I think that’s been our problem. We’ve had a lead a lot of time and we’ve kind of let them get back in it because we play on our heels. We let them take it to us. As a line and as a team we were saying let’s take it to them. That’s the best kind of defence – keep the puck in their end.”
The win was important from a mental standpoint. Hitting the playoffs on a long losing streak is a good recipe for an early exit.
“I think this weekend is probably our biggest weekend of the year, not only for standings, but just how we want to play going into the playoffs. When they tied it up, we as a unit thought we really needed to win this.”
Hammond, whose five points was a career best with the Thunderwolves, said Ainsworth’s remarkable tally – he undressed a Waterloo defender and goalie Justin Leclerc with a pair of dandy dekes – couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.
“That was a great goal, a huge goal. He’s a guy who sticks with it. He’s a hard worker and he knows how to put the puck in the net. Just give him the opportunity and he’ll make you pay.”
The Wolves led 3-0 after one and Mike Quesnele added to the lead on the power play just past the midway point of the second.
But with 25 seconds to go in the period Tyler Norrie stuffed it past Jeff Bosch, closing the gap to three again.
It was penalty trouble that cost the Wolves early in the third.
Jake Carrick ,who had a pair of assists, and Carson Dubchak took high sticking penalties 41 seconds apart and Jordan Larson ripped a pair of power-play goals past Bosch in a 74-second span, the first a quick shot from the right circle, the second from the opposite side of the ice.
Norrie tied the game at 6:38, pouncing on a failed wraparound that left the puck motionless in front of the LU net.
McDonald, who said penalties are penalties and didn’t fault his players for the calls, said all that mattered was the two points.
“We talked about it all week about how we have to win and we won it. So hopefully that’ll give them a little more confidence,” McDonald said.
Claw marks: Saturday is seniors night. Fifth-year veterans Andrew Wilkins and Brennan Menard will be honoured before the puck drops. Game time is 7:30 p.m … Playoff tickets go on sale Tuesday morning at the Gardens box office.
First period
Scoring: 1. Lakehead, Maw 5 (Hammond, Fillman) 2:31. 2. Lakehead, Hammond 11 (Alcock, Wilkins) 2:58 pp. 3. Lakehead, Hammond 12 (Dubchak, Gilbert) 14:29. Penalties: Carrick LAK (high sticking) 0:33, Underwood WAT (hooking) 1:36, Restoule LAK (tripping) 4:36.
Second period
Scoring: 4. Lakehead, M. Quesnele (Hammond, Carrick) 11:18 pp. 5. Waterloo, Norrie 2 (Woolley, Sonnenburg) 19:35. Penalties: Maw LAK (tripping) 6:18, Underwood WAT (roughing) 11:03, Mackie WAT (slashing) 17:02.
Third period
Scoring: 6. Waterloo , Larson 19 (Underwood, Behenna) 1:57 pp. 7. Waterloo, Larson (Behenna, Underwood) 3:11 pp. 8. Waterloo, Norrie 3 (Sonnenburg) 6:38. 9. Lakehead, Ainsworth 7 (Hammond) 7:47. 10. Lakehead Ainsworth 8 (Carrick, Tessier) 19:00. Penalties: Carrick LAK (high sticking) 1:03, Dubchak LAK (high sticking) 1:44, Mackie WAT (unsportsmanlike conduct, misconduct) 19:00.
GAME DATA – SOG – Waterloo 13-10-6-29, Lakehead 11-10-13-34; Power plays (goals-chances) Waterloo (2-5), Lakehead (2-4). Goaltenders – Waterloo: Justin Leclerc, Lakehead: Jeff Bosch; A: 2,204.
