With only one game on their schedule, it was a slow week for the MacMaster Pontiac Buick GMC Northmen but it was one that could prove costly for the Junior B squad.

While conference teams were showing their winning form, the Northmen found themselves only able to watch as they slipped from second to third in the Mid-West division.

With only nine games remaining in the regular season, Orangeville also currently sits tied with Spartan for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference.

In that lone game of the week, Orangeville did not do much to improve their own prospects either.

Playing Saturday in Windsor, the Northmen found themselves up against a much improved Clippers team.

The long drive west may have had something to do with a sluggish first period start for Orangeville who found themselves trailing 4-1 after the first 20 minutes of play.

Through the second and third, the Northmen picked up the pace, playing even through two and actually outscoring the Clippers 3-2 in the third but it was not enough to erase the early deficit with Windsor hanging on to take a 9-7 victory.

Dustin Caravello and Jamie Szabolcs lead the way for Orangeville with each picking up a pair while James Shepherd and Steven Rogers rounded out the Northmen scoring.

This weekend, the Northmen have a chance to gain some ground in the standings but it wont come easy.

Thursday, its off north to Owen Sound for a game at the Bayshore Arena then all flip the compass and head south to Niagara for a game against the Thunderhawks at 8 pm on Saturday night.