The Sudbury Wolves let two valuable points slip by them on Thursday night as the fell 6-3 to the North Bay Battalion.
Sudbury entered Thursday's contest one point back of the Mississauga Steelheads for top spot in the Central Division but failed to capitalize on a Steelheads OT loss to the Peterborough Petes.
With the loss and Mississauga earning the OT point, the Wolves fall two points back of the Steelheads with Mississauga holding a game in hand.
The Wolves dug themselves into an early hole Thursday night, falling behind 3-0 in the first period on Battalion goals from Zach Poirier, Brett McKenzie, and Max Kislinger.
David Levin got the Wolves on the board 12 minutes into the second period with his 13th goal of the season and Macauley Carson pulled the Wolves within one with two minutes to go in the second, but that's the closest the Wolves would get.
Justin Brazeau opened the lead back up to two goals a minute later and the Wolves trailed 4-2 heading into the third.
Adam McMaster would add an insurance marker for North Bay early in the third period before David Levin tallied his second of the game.
The Battalion added an empty net goal on Kislinger's second and sealed the 6-3 win.
The Wolves will be back at it on home ice on Friday night when the Saginaw Spirit come to town. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.
