The Stettler Lightning are one victory away from winning their first Heritage Junior Hockey League playoff series since 2010.
On home ice Tuesday night, Stettler defeated the Mountainview Colts 5-2 to take a 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven Northern Division semifinal.
The fourth game is set for Friday at 8 p.m. at the Didsbury Recreation Complex. A fifth game, if necessary, would be played at 5 p.m. Sunday in Stettler.
Castor’s Simon Thieleman made 31 saves to post his third straight playoff victory.
The Lightning broke open a 2-2 game with three unanswered goals in the third period.
Adam Ternes and Jacob Hamel each had a goal and an assist for Stettler. The other Lightning scorers were Reese Anheliger, Dylan Houston and Scott Ternes.
Rick Gundlock and Jason Edwards replied for Mountainview, while Colts goaltender Connor Slipp blocked 27 shots.