Friday night, the Nipissing Lakers men's hockey likely deserved to beat the Guelph Gryphons.

While the Gryphons didn't get lucky, the Lakers outplayed them for large portions of the game, hits few posts and overall, had better chances to win.

Nipissing came up short and Saturday, they couldn't regain the form they showed Friday night and the Western Mustangs took advantage and topped the Lakers 5-1.

The first period set the tone for the Mustangs as they scored three goals, including two early on, just minutes apart, to grab a lead that was never in doubt.

Up 3-0 after 20 minutes, the powerful Mustangs didn't let up, adding two more goals in the middle frame to head to the final period holding a commanding 5-0 lead.

The shots, while favouring the Mustangs, weren't as lopsided as the score – 22-14 Western.

In the third, things got heated and physical between the two teams as they combined for 10 penalties and 20 minutes in the box, with the majority – all but one – being call for roughing.

Nipissing did manage to break local goaltender Greg Dodd's shutout, as Joel Herbet finished off a nice passing playing, roofing the puck over Dodds' glove hand.

Herbert drove the net and took a slick pass from Steven Deeg from behind the net to score the Lakers lone goal of the game.

Brock Morrison picked up the additional assist on the tally.

Domenic Graham played the first two periods for Nipissing, while Kirk Rafuse finished the game off in the third period.

The Lakers have now dropped four straight, including three in regulation and will look to get back on track with a road trip to the west, as they face Lakehead for a pair of games next weekend.