Box Score All season long, special teams have been the key for the Waterloo Warriors. On Thursday night in Guelph, it was their undoing.

The Gryphons scored two goals on the power play, added two more just one second after a Waterloo penalty had expired, and even buried a shorthanded marker as they topped the Warriors 7-3 on Thursday night in Guelph.

James Merrett had 4 points, and Nick Huard added two goals and an assist for the host Gryphons, who move to 10-10-4 on the season. The win also leapfrogged them past the Warriors (10-10-3) and into the eighth and final playoff spot in the OUA West division.

The Warriors were able to add three power play goals in the third, but only after failing to capitalize on their first five opportunities. Justin Larson (Buckhorn/) scored twice for Waterloo, and Brett Mackie (Whitby/), Andy Smith (Rosetown/), and Chris Chappell (Pickering/) each added two points.

Keith Hamilton was solid when called upon, turning aside XX shots for the Gryphons in the win. Making his third straight start for the Warriors, Mike Morrison (Hamilton/) made 19 stops on 24 shots before being replaced by Justin Leclerc (Saskatoon/) late in the second period.

The Warriors actually looked like the more prepared club upon puck drop, as Smith was robbed by Hamilton on a partial break just a few minutes in. But, after failing to capitalize on an early power play, Huard fired home a rocket on the Gryphons' first man-advantage to make it 1-0 Guelph. Teal Burns made it 2-0 for the hosts late in the frame, and the Gryphons took a two-goal advantage into the first intermission.

The Warriors looked poised to cut into the Guelph lead early in the second, but Gryphons forward Phillip Teri deflated Waterloo when his sharp-angle shorthanded effort found Morrison's five-hole to make it 3-0 Guelph. Later in the second, Gryphons Kyle Neuber and Stephen Strong each found twine just as Waterloo penalties expired to chase Morrison and make the score 5-0 after forty minutes.

The Warriors finally got on the board in the third, as Mackie tipped home a Colin Behenna (Waterloo/) feed on the man-advantage to make it 5-1. Huard would answer on a breakaway to restore the five-goal advantage, before Larson converted for his first of two on the night to make the score 6-2. After Merrett rounded out the scoring for the Gryphons, Larson did the same for the Warriors when he hauled a puck in front and past Hamilton's blocker side.

The Warriors won't have to wait long to try to temporarily reclaim an OUA playoff spot, as they will return home to face the Western Mustangs on Friday night. Puck drop from the Columbia Icefield Arena is slated for 7:30pm.

Notes: The Warriors went 3-for-8 on the power play, while Guelph went 2-for-5…Warriors captain Joe Underwood (Canton/) missed his second straight game with an upper body injury…Chappell returned after missing four games with an upper body injury of his own.