The Gladstone Lakers are in a do-or-die situation. The Lakers are preparing for a huge game four on the road tonight against the Minnedosa Bombers as they are down 2-1 in the best-of-five series.

Gladstone took game one by a fairly wide margin, but have now lost back-to-back one-goal games to put them in this position. Head coach Dale Evenson says penalties have been killing them.

"The last two games have been frustrating. Penalty trouble in the third period has really hurt us. In both games, we took four penalties in the third period," Evenson explains. "We outplayed them the whole game, but their goalie has been playing really well, he's tough to beat."

Evenson says the main thing they did in game one that they will need to recreate tonight is getting pucks in the back of the net.

"In the first game, we were basically playing the same way that we have been lately, but we scored a few goals in that game. That's the biggest difference," says Evenson. "We managed to stay out of the box a little more at the end of the game, but those are the two keys."

Despite the adversity, Evenson still has faith that the Lakers can head to the league finals.

"The main thing is we've got to win one game to play two," Evenson continues. "We look forward to tonight. The guys are still confident we can do it, and they know we can do it. They just have to do it. We're looking forward to tonight, and hopefully, tomorrow too."

Tonight's game four is set for 8:00 in Minnedosa, and if the Lakers win, the winner takes all game five will take place tomorrow in Gladstone at 6:30.