The good news for the Waterloo Warriors men's hockey team is that their inconsistent offense bounced back to score four goals on the road against the Ryerson Rams on Wednesday night. But the bad news is that the high-flying Rams got six.

Devon Paliani scored twice, and three other Rams registered two points apiece as Ryerson skated away with a 6-4 win in an intense battle at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto.

Matt Mistele's two assists moved him into second in the OUA in scoring with 21 points, while Mitch Skapski added two helpers and John Carpino notched a goal and an assist. Waterloo got goals from Zac Coulter (Owen Sound/), Phillip Fife (Oromocto/), Nick Halagian (St. Catharines/), and Joey Champigny (East Angus/) – the latter of which cut the Ryerson lead to 5-4 late in the third. But despite a mad scramble with the extra attacker on in the game's last minute, the Rams held the fort and salted away the game on an empty-netter.

The win improves Ryerson's record to 8-3-0, while the Warriors dropped to 4-5-2 on the season. Taylor Dupuis was solid when called upon for the hosts, turning aside 37 shots to earn the victory. Rookie Trevor Martin (Ardrossan/) made 22 saves in the loss for the Warriors.

The Rams jumped out to an early lead, as Paliani and Kyle Tibbo each scored to give Ryerson a 2-0 lead before the game was seven minutes old. But Coulter's neat tip on a Michael Siddall (St. Mary's/) shot cut the deficit in half, as Ryerson led 2-1 after 20 minutes.

The early part of the second period was much like the first though, as the Rams notched two more quick strikes: Carpino scored at the 1:18 mark, and Jared Walsh's first career USports goal made it 4-1 at 4:42 of the middle stanza. But the Warriors brought themselves right back into the game in a 19-second span midway through the frame: first, Fife sniped home a power play marker over Dupuis' blocker, before Halagian bounced one home from a tough angle to cut the Rams lead to 4-3.

However, the Warriors' efforts to tie the game were derailed by a parade to the penalty box. Waterloo was whisteled for four straight minor penalties in a span of 4:30 late in the period, and the Rams finally cashed in on the second of two 5-on-3 man advantages when captain Alex Basso whistled home a point shot to make the score 5-3 heading into the third.

The Waterloo barrage in the third eventually paid dividends when Champigny tipped home a Mike Moffat (Waterloo/) wrister in front to make it 5-4 with under three minutes to play. But, despite a goalmouth scramble that nearly resulted in the tying marker, Paliani put the game away with an empty-netter as time expired.

The Warriors won't have much time to lick their wounds, as they are back on home is on Friday, November 17 to host the first-place York Lions. Puck drop at the Columbia Icefield Arena is slated for 7 pm.