The Waterloo Warriors were unquestionably the better team for about 56 minutes of their game against the Lakehead Thunderwolves Friday night. Unfortunately, it was the other four minutes that cost them.

The Wolves scored three goals in a span of 3:35 early in the second period en route to a 5-2 victory over the Warriors on Friday night in Thunder Bay.

It is Waterloo's third straight loss following an eight-game winning streak, as the Warriors see their record fall to 12-11-0. Colin Behenna (Waterloo) scored both of the visitors' goals on first-period power plays, while Stephen Silas (Georgetown) added a pair of helpers. Mike Morrison (Hamilton) took the loss between the pipes, kicking aside 25 shots.

For the Wolves, Kelin Ainsworth led the way with two goals and a helper, while Billy Jenkins registered four assists on the night. Garrick Gray also chipped in with a goal and two assists for Lakehead, who, at 6-13-4, kept their slim playoff hopes alive. Devin Green was solid when called upon, making 41 stops in the Thunderwolves net for the win.

The result would have been an utter shock to anyone who tuned out after just the first period, as the visiting Warriors dominated the opening Stanza. They outshot Lakehead 18-9 in the period, and Behenna scored on back-to-back man advantages - first with a short side snipe, then with a goalmouth rebound - to give Waterloo a 2-0 lead after one.

But the Thunderwolves turned the tables quickly in the second, with a flurry of goals from Gray, Dylan Butler, and Jake Wright. By the six-minute mark of the second, the two-goal Waterloo lead had evaporated, and Lakehead was in front 3-2.

Ainsworth added a goal late in the second to make it 4-2 after 40 minutes, and he extended the Lakehead lead midway through the third. Despite getting their opportunities on the man advantage, the Warriors couldn't climb their way back in the game. Waterloo finished the night 2-7 on the power play, after going 2-2 in the first period.

The Warriors will look for the Thunder Bay split as these two teams do battle once again on Saturday night in Thunder Bay. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm.