Nolan Gardiner provided the only offence the Chatham Maroons mustered Saturday night in their 3-1 loss to the Rockets at Strathroy.
The Maroons are in third place in the GOJHL Western Conference with 26 points. The Rockets are tied for seventh place with the Komoka Kings with 18 points.
The first period was a scoreless tie, with each team with an unsuccessful power play chance apiece. The Maroons dominated the Rockets in the shot count 21-8 in the period.
Strathroy broke through in the middle frame with three goals. Emmet Pierce scored on the power play at 2:35, Ryan Warner soon doubled the Rockets' lead, then Daniel Aspro's short-handed goal put them up by a trio. Maroons goalie Tristan Lewis was pulled at that point for the backup, Adam Harris.
Gardiner's goal came with just one second left in regulation.
Lewis and Harris combined for 36 saves in goal for Chatham. Vince Michelizzi stopped all but one of the 46 shots he faced for Strathroy.
The Maroons return home Sunday night for a game against the St. Thomas Stars.
