The Nipissing Lakers men's hockey team's 2019 started very strong, but has since hit a bump.

The Lakers started off the second half of the year with a pair of big wins, but has dropped three in a row since, including a 6-1 loss to the UOIT Ridgebacks and a 6-4 loss to the Carleton Ravens on the road.

Against UOIT, the Ridgebacks struck early and had a 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the first period.

Nipissing replied before the midway point of the period, tying the game.

Lucas Brown scored, set up by Matt Donnelly and Brett Jeffries.

That was all the offence the Lakers would muster, however.

UOIT took the lead before the end of the first period and scored twice in the second and twice more in the third to come away with the victory.

Brent Moran was tagged with the loss, but still managed 37 saves.

Against Carleton the next night, the teams combined for 10 goals on 69 shots.

The Ravens came out strong, scoring early in the first and led 1-0 before Gael Lubwele tied things up.

Danny Desrochers and Colby Tower picked up assists on the goal.

Carleton struck twice before the end of the period to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.

From there, the teams traded goals – scoring once each in the second and twice each in the third.

After going down 4-1, Matt Donnelly scored on the power play to make it 4-2 Carleton.

Erik Robichaud and Colin Campbell had the helpers.

Nipissing would tie the game thanks to a great push in the early part of the third period when Lucas Clark and Colin Campbell scored to make it 4-4.

Brock Morrison, Brown, Robichaud and Brett Hargrave all had assists in a frantic 13 minutes.

Nipissing was unable to hold on after their push, however, as Carleton scored twice in the final five minutes to take a 6-4 lead and claim the win.

Domenic Graham made 26 saves in the loss, with the Lakers firing 37 shots at the Ravens net.

Nipissing returns to home ice for a pair of games against UQTR this weekend.

Friday, the teams hit the ice at 7:45pm and Saturday's rematch is set for 7:30pm, both at Memorial Gardens.