MIDDLESEX TWP — Its power play was one thing that went well for Butler’s hockey team Monday night.

Other aspects of the game, most notably the final score, did not.

The Golden Tornado tallied three power-play goals over the first two periods against North Allegheny. When Brendan Ackelson scored an even-strength tally 39 seconds into the final period, Butler was tied with the Tigers at 4-4.

But NA’s Joe Zappia scored later in the period and the Tigers held on for a 5-4 victory at Ice Connection.

The loss snapped Butler’s four-game winning streak and ties the Golden Tornado with NA for second place in the PIHL Class AAA standings. Both teams have 17 points, three behind Peters Township.

Jacob Curry started in net for Butler (8-3-1) for the first time this season and took the loss after stopping 19 of 24 shots.

“Zach (Schnur) is our starter, but he (Curry) was with us last year and was injured earlier this season,” said Tornado coach Patrick Hammonds. “He’s been working hard and deserved an opportunity.”

Zappia’s goal came with 11:15 remaining in the game, but six minutes later, the Tornado earned a two-minute power play and it seemed to be just what the team needed to tie the score once again.

But 11 seconds into their man-advantage, the Tornado were whistled for a roughing penalty on Jonathan Fair. Butler gained another reprieve 75 seconds afterward when NA sent a second player to the penalty box and the Tornado played with a 4-on-3 advantage for 34 seconds.

The Tigers, however, had plugged the leaks in their penalty-killing unit and both teams returned to even strength with the Tigers still ahead.

“We normally don’t take a lot of penalties, but we did tonight,” said Tiger coach Mike Bagnato. “Butler is very good on the power play, whether it’s through (Connor) Scott or whoever. In the third period, we started to collapse on the box more and got more guys in front of the net. We basically took away their passing lanes.”

Earlier in the game, those lanes were wide open as Trevor Gilliland and Ben Rodgers found out. Gilliland’s first score tempered the momentum NA had gained with two goals in the first period.

Rodgers followed when he beat NA goalkeeper Joe Hubert nearly seven minutes into the second period.

The Tigers’ Dawson Richard and John Parks then sandwiched goals around Gilliland’s second score and the Tigers held a 4-3 edge entering the third period.

“Defensively, we didn’t respond well to the pressure,” said Hammonds. “We were indecisive. We made some adjustments as the game went on, like getting our forwards to support more on breakouts, but the guys on the power play did an excellent job of keeping us in the game.”

Richard and Parks both greeted Curry with goals in the first period.

Fair and Scott both tallied two assists for Butler while Cameron Barto and Gilliland had one.

Hubert made 26 saves for the Tigers (8-4-1).

Butler will travel to Iceoplex next Tuesday to take a shot at Peters Township.