Fort Macleod Mustangs and Lethbridge Lightning met Saturday in a Ranchland Hockey League playoff preview.
In the final regular season game for the Mustangs, the Lightning rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat Fort Macleod 8-3.
The two teams will meet in a best-of-five semifinal series with Nanton Palominos taking on Siksika Buffaloes in the other series.
The first game is Friday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Fort Macleod and District Sports Centre.
The second game is Saturday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Nicolas Sheran Arena in Lethbridge.
Lightning 8 Mustangs 3
The first-place Lightning opened the scoring 5:40 into the game with a goal by Cody Berube.
Fort Macleod responded just over five minutes later with an unassisted goal by Jay Many Grey Horses.
Two minutes later Jayden Bexte scored on a powerplay and the Mustangs led 2-1. Many Grey Horses and Kent Broere assisted.
Two minutes into the second period the Mustangs went up 3-1 when Jamelyn Weasel Head scored an unassisted shorthanded goal.
Lethbridge responded 46 seconds later with goal by Keegan McDowell.
The teams battled evenly through the second frame until Brady Matson and Leo Lacourciere scored goals just over a minute apart to put Lethbridge up 4-3.
Jarrett Metheral scored with one second on the clock and the Lightning led 5-3 heading into the break.
The Lightning put the game out of reach early in the third as Winston Day Chief and Josh Wilsons scored goals just over two minutes apart.
James Price added another Lethbridge goal with 1:51 to play to make the final score 8-3.
The Lightning blasted 48 shots on Fort Macleod goalies Daniel Wenham and Aaron DeKok while the Mustangs got 28 shots on Lethbridge goalie Dawson Brolund.
Fort Macleod Mustangs Adam Stafford moves the puck up the ice with Lethbridge Lightning’s Brady Matson in pursuit. 
Lethbridge Lightning’s Keegan McDowell crashes into Fort Macleod Mustangs goalie Daniel Wenham despite the efforts of defenceman Cole Rutledge. 
Lethbridge Lightning’s Jarrett Metheral reaches for a loose puck in front of Fort Macleod Mustangs goalie Daniel Wenham. 
Keegan McDowell of the Lethbridge Lightning is in pursuit of Justin Donahue of the Fort Macleod Mustangs.
