The Altona Maroons took a two games to one lead in the SEMHL best of seven final with a 4-2 win over the Plum Coulee Xpress, last night in Winkler.

After losing 6-1 in game two on Tuesday, the Maroons continued their domination in first periods. During the first two games of the series, the Maroons had out-shot the Xpress nearly two to one. They did that again on last night, out-shooting Plum Coulee 21-11 in the opening period.

Ryan Dyck tipped in a Devon Leblanc shot right off the face-off to give Altona a 1-0, 10:36 into the game. However, the Xpress got that one back when Anders Strome scored his 17th of the playoffs just under eight minutes later.

Altona added a pair in the second period to take a 3-1 lead. Josh Froese finished off a nice pass from his brother Jon Froese, 8:44 into the second to put the Maroons up 2-1. In the final minute of the period Devon Leblanc was left alone in the slot and wired a shot over Plum Coulee netminder Jayme Janzen push the Maroons ahead by two.

In the final period, the Maroons went ahead by three goals when Shea Hamilton ripped a shot off the cross bar and in giving Altona a 4-1 lead with half 12:30 to play in regulation.

Dale Harder scored his fifth of the playoffs on the power-play with eight minutes to go to cut the Maroons lead to 4-2. In the dying minutes, Harder appeared to score again but the goal was waved off as the referee determined the puck had been kicked in.

Altona finished the game on a 5-on-3 power-play which snuffed out the Plum Coulee comeback effort.

Carey Dyck earned the win in goal for Altona and Jayme Janzen took the loss for the Xpress. The Maroons out-shot the Xpress 54-36 and have now out-shot Plum Coulee in all three games of the series.

Plum Coulee went 1-for-7 on the man-advantage, while the Maroons went 0-for-4.

Game four of the best of seven series will be played tomorrow night in Altona. Puck drop at the Millennium Exhibition Centre is 8 p.m.