Lethbridge Lightning’s Matt Forchuk circles the Fort Macleod goal with Wilbur Yellow Old Woman, Brydon Beston and goalie Devon Hardie defending.
Fort Macleod Mustangs open the Ranchland Hockey League playoffs on home ice Friday, March 3.
The third-place Mustangs take on the second-place Lethbridge Lightning at 8:45 p.m. in the first game of their best-of-five semifinal series.
Game 2 is Saturday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Nicholas Sheran Arena in Lethbridge.
The third game of the series at 7:45 p.m. Friday, March 10 at ATB Centre East in Lethbridge.
Game 4, if necessary, is at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 11 at the Fort Macleod and District Sports Centre.
The winner of that series advances to play regular season champion Siksika buffalos for the playoff championship.
The Mustangs and Lightning closed out the regular season Saturday in Fort Macleod in a preview of their semifinal match-up.
The Lightning took a 5-0 lead in the opening period, increased it to 10-1 after 40 minutes and cruised to a 12-2 win.
The win improved Lethbridge’s record to 12-6 while the Mustangs fell to 4-14.
The Lightning got two first period goals from Jerrett Metheral and Dallas weber, with Leo Lacourciere also scoring to open the 5-0 lead.
In the second period Lacourciere and Matt Forchuk scored to boost the Lightning’s lead to 7-0.
Brydon Beston got his second of the year mid way through the second period to get Fort Macleod on the scoreboard. Lance Young Pine assisted.
Joshua McCulloch, Josh Wilson and Forchuk with his second of the game scored for Lethbridge as the Lightning took a 10-1 lead into the break.
McCulloch with his second of the game and Lacourciere with his third scored in the first eight minutes of the third to make it 12-1.
Tyler Young Pine, assisted by Brandon Aab and Jayden Bexte, closed out the scoring with Fort Macleod’s second goal with three minutes to play.
The Lightning poured 39 shots on Fort Macleod goalie Devon Hardie while the Mustangs tested Lethbridge goalie Alex Sirard with 23.
