TORONTO — The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men's hockey team went up against the Guelph University Gryphons on Saturday night and lost 3-1.

After a successful road series, there were high expectations and hopes for the Bold in their home return, but the Bold lost to Lakehead on Friday and fell to Guelph on Saturday.

"It's pretty top to bottom right now," said head coach Johnny Duco. "We can't score, we have a hard time executing offensively. Defensively we have far too many lapses and we have a hard time consistently making plays and having clean breakouts and igniting our offence from the defensive side."

The first period started slow, but the plays looked to be a bit more calculated. In the first half of the first frame, things seemed to be going fine. Players like Aleks Dimovski added to the offensive pressure.

The momentum took  a turn, however, when Guelph scored. The Bold could not clear the puck out of their zone and the Gryphons' Jack Wismer kept control of the puck, passing it through the legs of Easton Kovacs and into the net.

The period ended with the Bold down one but up on shots on goal, 19-8.

In the second period, the Bold applied pressure in an attempt to even things out. Two penalties were called in the period against TMU, but their penalty killing was strong, as has been the case consistently this season.

"The penalty kill did a great job," said Duco. "Coach Fine's real dialled in there and takes a lot of pride in them being a top penalty kill."

While the penalty killing was a strength, the Bold struggled at even-strength. Towards the end of the period, TMU could not clear the puck, and the Gryphons scored their second goal of the night to take a 2-0 lead into the second intermission.

At the start of the final frame, the Bold found themselves on the power play for the first couple of minutes. Despite having opportunities on a 5-on-3 advantage, the Bold could not score and made multiple turnovers. 

"When you get 5-on-3s, you want to find a way to score those, and usually when you don't score on a 5-on-3, you lose the game," said Duco. "Unfortunately, that's how it was for us here tonight."

The Bold did find success with their final power play of the night. Gavin Grundner scored his seventh goal of the season when he jammed the puck into the right side of the net with Will Portokalis and Joseph Ianniello picking up the assists.

The score put the Bold down by only one, and they continued to apply pressure.

Hunter Donohoe sent a pass to Ianniello, who nearly tied the game as he fired a shot from the top of the right circle, which generated a rebound, but the Bold could not bury the second opportunity.

With four minutes left in the game, Guelph's Chase Lammi intercepted a pass and skated through the middle of the ice before firing the puck past Bold goaltender Ryan Dugas to make it a 3-1 game.

The Bold ended the night outshooting Guelph 49-19 in shots on goal, but only placed one into the back of the net.

According to Duco, practice habits need to change to get better scoring opportunities in games.

"I watch guys in practice miss empty nets and miss grade A chances and not be too upset about it," said Duco. "Your practice habits are your game habits and until we practice at a higher level and take more pride in our practice habits, you know we're probably going to see more of the same inconsistencies."

The Bold will return to the ice on Nov. 14 against the Western Mustangs in London, Ont. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. and fans can catch the game on OUA.tv.