The third place Maidstone Jets have put a bit of a scare in the defending North Saskatchewan River Hockey League champion St. Walburg Eagles.
The Eagles went 17-3-0 on the season while the Jets were just four points back with a 14-4-2 record meaning neither team is a huge underdog, but it is the Jets who lead the semifinal series 2-0.
Maidstone won both games by 4-3 scores. Wednesday on home ice the Jets had a strong third period to rally for the win.
In the first game of the series Friday in St. Walburg, Rory Gregoire had a goal and two assists while Brett Harrison and Ryan Johnston had one goal and one assist each. Jason Roberts also scored for the Jets while Troy Johnston had two assists. Dustin MacDonald earned the win for the Jets between the pipes.
In net for St. Walburg was Bryan Bridges while Logan Isley, John Larre and Nic Wourms scored for the Eagles. Maidstone scored three times in the third period to take game one of the series.
In the other semifinal series between Wilkie and Meadow Lake, it was the visiting team winning games one and two, as the teams were tied heading into game three Thursday.
In a rough game in Wilkie Tuesday, Meadow Lake took a 4-1 lead into the third period.
Wilkie's Mike Sittler scored early in the period for his second of the game and Rick Cey capitalized after goaltender Rick Dallyn mishandled the puck while Wilkie had pulled their goalie for the extra attacker.
That was as close as the Outlaws would get, as the game finished 4-3. Eric Calibaba led the Meadow Lake Stampeders' offence with two goals and an assist. Cole Fern and Devon Michel also scored for Meadow Lake.
Wilkie's Jared Herle was in net for the loss.
Game one of the series was Saturday in Meadow Lake and was another one-goal game, as it went to triple overtime before Sittler won the game for Wilkie. He had two goals and an assist in the game while Cey had one goal and two assists. Their linemate Barrett Penner had a goal and three assists while Will Rathje had one goal and one assist and David Schell had one goal.
Calibaba, Darren Caron, Jordan Keller, Ashton McIntyre and Jordon Oystrick scored for Meadow Lake in the first game of the series.
The NSRHL playoff action resumes this weekend with game three between Maidstone and St. Walburg set for 8 p.m. Friday in St. Walburg and game four between Wilkie and Meadow Lake is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday in Wilkie.
