The Rocky Rams won two of their three playoff games over the weekend vs the Sylvan Lake Wranglers and evened their best-of-seven series 2-2.

On Friday, the Wranglers came to town in hopes to take a 2-0 series lead.

In the first period the Wranglers would open the scoring at 12:42 after Aydden Shaw would score his first goal of the playoffs. Hayden Motowylo earned the loan assist. The Wranglers managed 16 shots on goal, while the Rams managed 10. The Rams penalty kill performed great throughout the first 20 minutes killing off both Wrangler powerplays.

In the second period the Rams would tie the game 1-1 at 4:05 after a Quinn Tomalty goal. Noah Wilson earned the only assist. The Rams posted 9 shots on net in the second period while the Wranglers managed 17 shots on net. Rams goalie Zaiden Hansen, however, stopped all of them. The Rams penalty kill was strong in the second period as well, killing off the Wranglers only powerplay.

In the third period, the Wranglers would take an early lead at 2:32 after Payton Wright scored an unassisted goal to put Sylvan Lake up 2-1. Late in the third period, the Wranglers would take a double minor head contact penalty and Reid Christiansen would make them pay, tying the game 2-2 at 18:45. Grady Mofford and Jake Smith earned the assists. Just like game one of the series, game two is also heading to overtime.

In overtime, it was Rams captain Nick Jervis finding the back of the net at 4:56 on the powerplay, to secure a 3-2 Rams victory and tying the series at 1-1.

Rams goalie Zaiden Hansen had a great game between the pipes stopping 37 of 39 shots.

Saturday

On Saturday the Rams headed to Nexsource Centre in Sylvan in hopes to gain the series lead.

However, the Wranglers had different plans opening the scoring early in the first period after a Zachary Daniels goal. Karson Ledieu and Fox Doell earned the assists. In a close first period the Wranglers outshot the Rams 8-7.

Much like the first period, the second period started off on the wrong foot for the Rams giving up another early goal at 1:58 after Aydden Shaw found the back of the net and would give the Wranglers a 2-0 lead. Ashlain Dufresne and Keenan Green earned the assists. Later in the second period the Wranglers would claim a 3-0 lead after Hayden Motowylo scored his first of the playoffs. Assists came from the sticks Konnor Green and Tyler Arnold. The Rams would finally get on the bored after a Cameron Moir goal. The loan assist came from Cale Stecyk to make it 3-1.

In the third period, the Rams struggles continued after giving up a goal at the 10 minute mark when the Wranglers Hunter Adrian scored to increase the Wranglers lead 4-1. Payton Wright and Ashlain Dufresne earned the assists. The Wranglers continued to find the back of the net after Tate Causey made the game 5-1. Payton Wright and Ashlain Dufresne asisted on the play.

The Rams outshot the Wranglers 32-31, but Wranglers goalie Kaden Toussaint would have a great game stopping 31 of the 32 shots he faced.

Sunday

On Sunday the Rams were looking to bounce back after their blow out lose the night before.

In the first period the Rams would get on the scoreboard first after Quinn Tomalty would sneak one by Wranglers goalie Kaden Toussaint at 4:45. Cale Stecyk and Kyle Humphrey earned the assists. At 9:42 the Rams would make it a 2-0 lead after Jake Smith would score his fourth goal of the playoffs. Caleb Andrew and Reid Christiansen earned the assists. However, the Wranglers would make it a 2-1 game at 17:13 after a Konnor Green goal. The loan assist came from the stick of Aydden Shaw.

In the second period, the Wranglers got outshot by the Rams 13-11, but it was Tate Causey of the Wranglers who scored the only goal of the period at 7:35 to make it a 2-2 game. Brody Pearson and Ashlain Dufresne earned the assists. The Rams penalty kill did its job in the second period, killing off the Wranglers loan powerplay opportunity and eventually forcing them to go 0/3 on the game.

In the third period, Wranglers forward Hayden Motowylo took a tripping penalty at 5:31, and at 6:16, the Rams would make them pay after Reid Christiansen scored his sixth goal of the playoffs to make it a 3-2 game. Tristan Hoffus and Cale Stecyk earned the assists. The Rams would then get another goal on the powerplay at 10:15, and this time, it was Rams captain Nick Jervis getting a powerplay goal to increase the lead to 4-2. Kyle Humphrey and Jake Smith earned the assists.

The Rams would end up winning the game 4-2 with their powerplay going a perfect 2/2, which helped them pull off the victory in the third period. Rams goaltender Zaiden Hansen had another great performance in this game, stopping 44 of the 46 shots he faced.

Game five of the best of seven series takes place in Sylvan Lake on Feb. 28, at Nexsource Arena. Puck drop is at 8:00 p.m.