Colby Vranai's hard effort goal from in front of the net with 12.7-seconds to go in the third period broke a 1-1 tie and sent the Theodore Buffalos to a 3-1 win over the Swan Valley Axemen on Thursday night and a 2-1 series lead in the best of five league semi-final.
The Buffs led 1-0 for most of the night. Zach Korchinski scored late in the first and the rest of the game was a goalie duel between Warren Shymko (Theodore) and Deven Dubyk (Axemen). The Axemen scored on a fortunate bounce with just over two minutes remaining as Evan Morden capitalized on a hard rebound off the end boards but that was short lived as Vranai's heroics sent the hometown crowd home happy. Korchinski's second of the game went into an empty net as time expired.
Game four goes next weekend in Minitonas.
Meanwhile, Rocanville upended Langenburg 3-1 to take a 2-0 series lead in their best of five.
Jacob Tibbatts broke a 1-1 tie early in the third and Eric Lemoine put it out of reach with 8:51 to go in regulation. Ryan Regel also scored for Rocanville.
Jeremy Johnson had the lone goal for the Warriors.
