With the season winding down, every game, every win and every point is important.

The Nipissing Lakers men's hockey team's final push began Friday night when they hosted the RMC Paladins, but they came up short.

The Paladins used a strong first period to double up on the Lakers 4-2, despite being badly outshot in the contest.

In the opening frame, it was all Paladins in terms of offence.

They grabbed a 1-0 lead six minutes into the first period and the score stayed that way until late in the period.

With just under two minutes to go in the period, RMC added to their lead, going up 2-0 thanks to a power play marker.

Shots favoured RMC 10-6 after the opening 20 minutes.

In the middle frame, the Lakers had a lot more jump and it finally paid off for them.

With 10:56 left on the clock, Deverick Ottereyes tucked home a loose puck to cut into his team's deficit.

The goal, assisted by Erik Campbell and Jacob Hickey, pulled Nipissing within one of the Paladins.

RMC regained their two-goal lead late in the second period, going up 3-1 with 3:47 left on the clock, despite being outshot and outchanced in the second.

For the second time, the Lakers cut their deficit in half.

This time, it was thanks to a perfect shot by Jacob Collins.

Collins picked off a pass, walked into the slot and went upstairs for his seventh of the season.

Despite a 35-15 advantage in shots, Nipissing trailed RMC 3-2 after 40 minutes.

In the third period, the lone goal came with 1:04 left on the clock, as the Paladins sealed the win thanks to an empty-net tally.

Francis Asselin finished with 26 saves, while the Lakers had 45 shots on goal.

The Lakers and Paladins faceoff Saturday night in the rematch of Friday's contest.

Saturday's contest will also mark Military Appreciation Night as the Lakers honour members of the Canadian and American Armed Forces.