Three wins down, one to go.
The Cochrane Generals have a two point lead of 3-1 in the HJHL north final against the Red Deer Vipers and are poised to take it all in Game 5 at the Cochrane Arena March 10.
The Gens were in command of Game 4 in Red Deer on March 8 with a 3-0 lead up until the last three minutes, when the Vipers struck back on a power play and followed up with another goal 22 seconds later.
Cochrane was able to fend off further attacks to pocket another win in the best of seven playoff series.
Scoring for the Gens was Connor Stephenson, who had a hat trick in Game 3; Zachary Stewart and Andrew Guss.
In Game 1, assistant captain Tristan Ripplinger said the team needs to work harder to not take penalties. Half of Red Deer's four goals in that game were made on power plays.
"We have to stay disciplined and we can never get comfortable," he said. "As soon as we get comfortable and we're able to sit back, that's when it gets most dangerous for us. It's all about keeping pace."
The Gens had just three penalties in Game 4, all in the third period, as opposed to 13 in the game before.
The two teams were closely matched throughout the regular season with win-lose records of 28-5-3 for the Gens and 25-8-3 for the Vipers.
Cochrane has two in the win column from the regular season against Red Deer, including one in overtime, and the Vipers also have two, including an overtime win.
"They gave us some of the most trouble in the North Division for sure," said Ripplinger. "They're a big, strong team that can move the puck and they've got guys who can really shoot as well.
The north championship is on the line in the best of seven series on home ice Thursday night. Game 5 kicks off at 7:45 p.m.
In the south, the Medicine Hat Cubs held the Okotoks Bisons back with a 5-3 win in Game 4, preventing a sweep by the team who was up in the series by 3.
