Not even a 5-1 lead is safe for the Stettler Lightning.
The Lightning led by that margin after the first period Friday night at the Stettler Recreation Centre, but still managed to lose 7-6 to the Strathmore Wheatland Kings.
It was the seventh straight Heritage Junior Hockey League loss for the Lightning, who went O-for-October.
Overall, the Lightning are 2-7 this season and sit two points ahead of the last-place Ponoka Stampeders (1-9).
Cam Wright scored two goals for Stettler in its lone weekend game, while Wyatt Haustein and Kyler O’Connor netted power play goals and Scott Ternes and Doug Blacklock each scored once. Landon Potter picked up three assists and Blake Frechette figured in two of the Stettler goals.
Andrew Bergmann potted four goals and set up another for Strathmore (6-5-1-0), which connected three times on power plays.
The Wheatland Kings closed the gap to 5-3 in the second period and outscored the Lightning 4-1 in the final 20 minutes.
Stettler goaltender Coleman Waddell made 27 saves. Mack Schell dressed as the backup in the absence of the suspended Simon Thieleman.
Weston Joseph blocked 37 shots for Strathmore.
Stettler hits the road for two games this weekend – Friday night against the Airdrie Thunder (5-4-1-2) and Saturday night against the Red Deer Vipers (4-0-2-1).
The Lightning are back on the road next Wednesday night for a date with Ponoka, and wrap up the four-game road swing with a Nov. 11 game against the Okotoks Bisons (9-2-1-0).
The Lightning host the Blackfalds Wranglers (6-1-1-0) on Nov. 13.