There's no doubt the Nipissing Lakers men's hockey team packs an offensive punch and they showed that Friday night.

Unfortunately, the improved RMC Paladins spoiled what was an exciting home opener for the Lakers, as the Paladins escaped with a 5-4 shootout victory.

The teams traded goals all night, including both scoring in the final two minutes of the third period.

The Lakers got on the board first with Colby Tower's first of the year.

Drake Lindsay and Gael Lubwele earned assists on the game's opening tally.

RMC would reply twice before the end of the period to go ahead 2-1 after 20 minutes.

In the middle frame, it was all Nipissing, scoring twice to tie the game, then take the lead.

Lucas Brown potted a power play marker just before the midway mark, set up by Devyn Mayea and Deverick Ottereyes.

Tower would add his second at the 16-minute mark, set up by the same two as his first goal – Lindsay and Lubwele.

In the third period, the Paladins tied the game at 8:28 of the period.

That set up late-game drama.

Tower completed his hat-trick, poking home a loose puck in a scramble around the Paladins crease.

Lubwele picked up his third assist, while Matt Paul grabbed the other helper.

That lead lasted just over a minute, however, as RMC tied the game with the goalie out in the dying seconds of the game.

That set up overtime, but nothing was settled there, so the teams went to a shootout.

The lone goal came from Dan Kiriacou of the Paladins, as they escaped with the 5-4 shootout victory.

Nipissing now sits at 2-0-1, as both teams prepare for the rematch Saturday night at 7:320 at Memorial Gardens.