Nordiques make late-game push, still get tripped up by Warriors Published June 17, 2010 By John Stuart Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- They can't seem to beat these guys. Or so it would seem for the Nordiques when they play the league-power Warriors. Such was the case for the top Tinker hockeyeurs June 13. A late-game five on three looked promising that the Nordiques would escape with a tie in the final minutes, but it wasn't meant to be. Forward Chris Beatty took a blind shot on goal from the left inside hash with 20 seconds remaining but it went barely wide left, closing the game out in a 3-2 loss Sunday. It was a slow start for Tinker, who was missing several players in the row. The Warriors went up 2-0 in the first period as the Nordiques struggled with passing and pressing down the stretch. In the second it was Clark McClay who found purchase for Tinker, with a point-blank goal from the crease. The Nordiques stepped up their defensive effort, shutting down the Warriors cold, largely thanks to Nordiques goalie Doug Heatherington. But the Warriors were far from down. In the third they came back for a deflating goal with 7:20 on the clock. It was 3-1 with only minutes to play. Tinker needed to summon the mojo or it was a definitive game over. But they didn't disappoint. Shortly after, Kyle Bostic scored a goal for Tinker at 6:15 to make it 3-2. The Nordiques were back in it thanks to the close-combat goal from the crease that saw Bostic kick the puck into the net, on an assist from Brett Billby. Despite a hard press from the Nordiques in the final minutes it was the Warriors match to claim. The Nordiques have a tie and a loss to the Warriors in their last two meetings, and have an overall summer season record of 2-2-1. The Nordiques are back on the ice Sunday at 6 p.m. against the Sharks. They play at the Blazers Ice Center.