INJURIES/PENALTIES DROP WOLVES

THUNDER BAY, ON, Canada- The Thunder Bay Timberwolves, coming off two days of rest, showed some grit in River Cities. But in the end, it was one more goal that they needed to defeat the Renegades.
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The Renegades opened the scoring on the powerplay after a Jason Krog hook. Talented winger, Dustin Brown beat Antero Niittymaki under the netminder's glove on a screen. River Cities took the one to nothing lead into the first intermission.
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It took Scott Thornton a little over two and a half minutes in the second period to even the score while deflecting a shot from Eric Lindros in front of Cam Ward.
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Things started to look up for Thunder Bay in the second after Joe Pavelski padded the score with two more goals for the Timberwolves. But things changed dramatically in the third period.
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"We just sat back and gave them too much room," said Pavelski. "We're not a team in a position to give games away. Tonight we did just that."
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This may not be a team that makes excuses. But after the second period ended, they had a gaping hole in their blueline. Two slapshots and two Thunder Bay defensemen hobbling off the ice.
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First it was Keith Ballard (pictured) when he took a slapper from PJ Axelsson just below the right knee. Ballard tried to get up, but eventually had to be assisted to the bench.
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Almost exactly two minutes later, Petteri Nummelin laid out his body in front of a Jeff Carter shot. Nummelin took his shot off his right foot and also had to be assisted off the ice by teammates.
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"It's tough to lose anyone," said head coach Craig Hartsburg. "It's tougher to lose a defenseman. But to lose two in just a couple shifts... it's hard to recover. Which, obviously we didn't recover in the third."
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Thunder Bay went into the third period with a two goal lead, but only skating four defensemen.
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It took River Cities almost eight minutes to capitalize on the Timberwolves loss. But they did, with Brooks Laich deking out Matt Walker and then sliding the puck under Niittymaki's left leg.
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Thunder Bay held onto the one goal lead for most of the third period. But at 18:56, Martin St. Pierre slashed Steve Ott after Ott gave St. Pierre a facewash. Jeff Carter capitalized thirty-seven seconds later. Tying the game with twenty-seven seconds remaining.
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The Wolves would make it to overtime. But another bad penalty by Eric Lindros put the Renegades on the powerplay once again. A little over a minute into their advantage, River Cities sealed the game with another deflection in front of Niittymaki. This time off the stick of Thunder Bay native, Taylor Pyatt.
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"I really don't know how much we have left in the tank," said Hartsburg. "We're at the point where I know these guys just want to get the season over. You seen that tonight. The fight for survival. The will to win, or at least hold a lead isn't there. We've had alot of injuries this season. And that's not an excuse for the losses. But when you lose two key guys like we did tonight, and it's the last couple games of the season. It's just tough to motivate guys that just want a fresh start. We do have to come out tomorrow and give the people of Thunder Bay something to look forward to for next season."
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The Timberwolves play their final home game this season tomorrow night against the Quebec Remparts. They then have Friday off and will play their final game of the season on Saturday against the Hamilton Predators.