Staff
Another night, another Fort Frances Lakers’ comeback negated in extra time.
The local junior ‘A’ squad (19-10-3) dropped its fourth-straight game, falling 5-4 to the host Dryden Ice Dogs (21-12-0) last night.
The skid is the team’s longest since dropping its final five games of the 2009-10 regular season.
The Ice Dogs came out blazing in the first period, outshooting the Lakers 13-7 while notching three goals in a 2:51 span late in the frame to take control.
Alex Galbraith got things started at 14:56, with Dallas Crum following up just 49 seconds later to make it 2-0.
Ryan Lobreau rounded out the first-period scoring.
The Lakers began to show signs of life late in the second when Jaret Leclair notched his 10th of the season with 2:02 left.
Fort Frances then cut into the deficit further when Jace Baldwin beat Ice Dogs’ goalie Ian Perrier with his 12th at 4:28 of the third period.
Dryden responded with a Jesse Linner tally at 11:35, although Leclair’s second of the night 1:11 later left the two-goal cushion short-lived.
The Lakers then netted the equalizer with just 43 seconds left in regulation time as Byron Katapaytuk tallied his 15th to force overtime for the second-straight game.
Once there, however, Dryden’s Thomas Greene came up big, depositing a short-handed tally with 49 seconds left in the extra stanza.
Tyler Ampe made 22 saves for the Lakers, while Perrier turned aside 20 shots.
Fort Frances will look to rinse the bitter taste of losing out of its mouth before recessing for the Christmas break.
It won’t be easy, though, as the league-leading Wisconsin Wilderness will be in town tomorrow (Dec. 17) for a 7:30 p.m. start at the Ice For Kids Arena.
The Lakers lead the season series 3-1, having won the last three meetings.
In other news, the tilt originally scheduled for New Year’s Day in Spooner, Wis. has been rescheduled for Jan. 23.
