TROTWOOD — The Dayton Gems, according to their coach, sometimes let teams dictate the pace. Friday was one of those nights as Brian Gratz saw his team take a third-period lead only to give up three unanswered goals in a 5-3 loss to the helter-skelter Bloomington Blaze at Hara Arena.

The loss was an obvious setback for the improving Gems, who lead Bloomington by a point at the bottom of the Turner Conference.

“We had gotten points in the last five games and seven of the last eight,” said Gratz. “Tonight, we got caught in the slop.”

The third period was typical of the game’s erratic but entertaining play. Down 2-1, the Gems got goals from Damian Surma (two power-play markers) and Brandon Naurato just over two minutes apart. But Dayton (20-26-12) saw the productive night from their big guns wasted when Omar Pacha and Kyle Laughlin (two goals) answered with a pair in a 96-second span to go up 4-3.

“We battled to get on top and the power play was looking OK,” said Gratz, confused that his team allowed space for Bloomington despite it being a game plan topic. “But we started getting cute.”

The Gems at least showed they’re still supporting each other. When David Nimmo took a questionable hit to the head from Pacha late in the second, Nick Fanto jumped to his defense and threw a few quick rights to the Bloomington forward.

Dan Dunn made 29 saves in his third straight start (sixth in eight games since joining Dayton). It was the first time he allowed more than three goals and also lost in regulation.

Local kid Lee McClure, a Beavercreek native who played for the Troy Bruins last season, was the first player on the gamesheet with a roughing penalty. But his skirmish with Gems captain Greg Labenski proved costly for Bloomington. Surma’s one-timer from the point on the ensuing power play eluded Zane Kalemba and put Dayton up 1-0.

• Surma’s goals were his team-high 25th and 26th, while Naurato sits second on the team with 20. ... Tim Hartung and Kyle Bochek chipped in two assists each for the Gems. ... Dayton is 5-5-1 against Bloomington. ... Vladimir Nikiforov and Brandon Richardson also scored for the visitors.