All that was missing from a jaw dropping comeback by the Dryden GM Ice Dogs was a win.
The Fort Frances Lakers escaped disaster Tuesday night with a 6-5 shootout victory.
The Ice Dogs fell behind very early 3-0 and at one point trailed 4-1.
Tristan Knott finally got Dryden GM in the game scoring midway through the second.
However, the Lakers opened the third with another goal and appeared to be in control leading 5-1.
Cue the comeback…Eric Stout started things with a powerplay goal at the 6:19 mark.
The Lakers defence shutdown the Ice Dogs for the next nine minutes before Jacen Bracko knocked home a rebound on the powerplay at the 15:04 mark.
With under a minute to play and Dryden GM down 5-3, the Ice Dogs pulled the goalie and Luke Bellerose found the back of the net.
And with 14 seconds left to play, Trey Palermo banged one home to tie the game at five, before an ecstatic hometown crowd of 340.
Overtime solved nothing and the Ice Dogs opened the shootout with the first goal.
Fort Frances wouldn’t cave, scoring two straight to secure the victory.
Dryden GM outshot the Lakers 54-28.
Logan Sawka suffered the loss in relief of starter Justin Anderson.
The Ice Dogs did get a single point to move into sole possession.
Fort Frances is now 1-1-1 to start the season.
This is the first loss for the Ice Dogs on home ice since last November, when Dylan Kooner scored for Fort Frances in overtime.