The hole was dug too deep as the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks couldn't complete the comeback on Saturday night in Ripley.
The Winterhawks spotted the Ripley Wolves a 4-0 lead, fighting back to make it a one-goal game on two occasions, eventually dropping a 6-4 decision.
It was an inauspicious start for the Winterhawks, allowing Ripley to post 19 shots in the opening period, allowing three goals in the process to give Ripley a 3-0 lead after one.
The Wolves made it 4-0 just 20 seconds into the second period before the Winterhawks snapped out of it and started marching back.
Medric Mercier notched a power play goal at 2:57 of the second, from Mike Fiegehen and Curtis Johnston to get the Winterhawks on the board, cutting Ripley's lead to 4-1.
Another power play goal came at 16:22, this time Miles MacLean scoring from Mercier and Johnston to make it a 4-2 game.
Lauchlin Elder made it a one-goal game at 18:47 of the second, from Mercier and Josh Hopkin to make it a 4-3 game and made the Wolves sweat as the game headed to the third period.
The Winterhawks pushed for the equalizer, but it was Ripley that picked up the next goal off at 13:24 of the third, making it a 5-3 game heading into the final moments of the game.
Keeping up their never-say-die attitude, the Winterhawks got it back to within one with 45-seconds remaining when Mercier scored his second goal of the game and fourth point of the night on an unassisted marker to make it 5-4.
Ripley had the last laugh with an empty netter with 11 seconds left to make it a 6-4 final, snapping the Winterhawks six-game winning streak in the process.
Full Boxscore
The Winterhawks finished off the night scoreboard watching as they had eyes on the matchup between the Tavistock Royals and Creemore Coyotes.
Creemore prevailed 7-6 in a shootout, setting up a playoff clinching scenario on Sunday for the Winterhawks.
The Winterhawks can clinch the 3rd seed in the Sr. AA playoffs and a date with the 6th-seed Coyotes with a win, while a loss would keep the Winterhawks in 5th place and set up a 4th-vs-5th matchup with Tavistock.
The regular season finale goes Sunday at 6:00 p.m. as the Winterhawks host the Shelburne Muskies at their temporary home at the Harry Lumley Bayshore in Owen Sound.
A free fan bus is available, departing Lakeshore Recreation at 4:30 p.m. If you have not already done so -
please sign up using the online form.