TORONTO — Just over 24 hours after emerging victorious in a chaotic 9-7 game against the Lakehead Thunderwolves at home on Friday, the Rams snapped their eight-game winning streak, falling 4-3 to their northern rivals in a sloppy and piecemeal game. 

In the first period, both teams played a relatively conservative game, trapping opposing offensive chances and taking their time at various points in the frame. Though the Rams outshot the Thunderwolves 16-7 in the first frame, Lakehead got on the board with less than a minute remaining when Greg Smith tucked his fourth goal of the year past Garrett Forrest, who started his second game in as many nights. 

"We didn't do a great job of executing," Rams head coach Johnny Duco said of the team's effort and lack of defensive consistency early. "Our urgency just wasn't there."

After the first intermission, Aaron Hyman evened the score with his first goal of the season, but the tie wouldn't last long, as Lakehead's Joe Mack gave his team the lead less than a minute later, finishing a beautiful passing play by beating Forrest with a slick shot. Never intent on backing down, the Rams fired back a minute later when Kyle Bollers took a stunning feed from linemate Chris Playfair for the team's first shorthanded goal of the season. 
 

WATCH: pic.twitter.com/aJvZMOyWnM

— Rams Men's Hockey (@ramsmhockey) March 6, 2022

Before the period came to a close, Lakehead's Kevin Stiles squeaked one through Forrest, an unfortunate goal that was followed immediately by Dylan Massie's third goal of the season, the latter of which extended the Thunderwolves' lead to 4-2. 

"They were tight defensively and they kept us to the outside," Duco added. "I would've liked to see us roll up our sleeves a little bit and get a little more on the inside. I think that could've been the difference for us."
 

WATCH: pic.twitter.com/buIz27K0JJ

— Rams Men's Hockey (@ramsmhockey) March 6, 2022

In the third period, the Rams pulled within one thanks to David Miller, who buried a loose rebound for his fifth goal of the campaign. Still, it wasn't enough to get even with the hungry Thunderwolves, who took the second game and ended the Rams' spectacular stretch. 

The Rams are back in action on Wednesday, March 9, when they'll take on the York Lions at Canlan Ice Sports at 7:15 p.m.