The Red Deer Rustlers and Lacombe Generals are tied 1-1 after the first two games in the south division finals.
With a trip to the Vanberg Cup Finals on the line, the Generals stole Game 1 on the road, and the Rustlers responded in Game 2 in the North Central Senior AA Hockey League (NCHL) playoffs.
Beginning on Saturday, Feb. 24th the number two ranked Generals knocked off the number one Rustlers 5-2 at the Penhold Multiplex.
Generals Craig Gans scored first on the powerplay just minutes into the game but the Rustlers responded on their own powerplay five minutes later scored by Ryan Vandervlis.
However, before the end of the opening frame, Lacombe retook the lead when Colin Zimmer scored.
Red Deer tied it once again early in the second from Zachary Evans-Renaud but from that point on the Generals took control.
Bryce Wilson put Lacombe back on top before the end of the second followed by goals from Cam Maclise and Troy Maclise in the third period.
On Sunday, Feb. 25 the Rustlers shut out the Generals 3-0 in Red Deer to tie the seven-game series 1-1.
Keagan Kingwell, Tyler Berkholtz, and Zachary Evans-Renaud all scored for the Rustlers in the victory. Goaltender Brodan Salmond made 34 saves to hold Lacombe scoreless.
The series now moves to Lacombe for Games 3 and 4. They’ll return to the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex for Game 3 on Saturday, March 2nd at 8:30 p.m. followed by Game 4 on Sunday at 5 p.m.
Game 5 is set for Wednesday, March 6th at the Penhold Multiplex at 8:15 p.m. and if needed, Game 6 will be played on March 9th in Lacombe at 7:45 p.m.