The margin for error has shrunk considerably for the Weyburn Red Wings and Kindersley Klippers, as both teams enter the final three games of the SJHL MemberCare Cup playoffs.

The Wings and Klippers emerged from the two-game series in Weyburn this weekend tied 2-2. The Wings downed the Klippers 5-3 on Friday night, while the Klippers won 3-2 on Saturday.

Weyburn had pulled a similar trick the previous weekend, splitting two games with the Klippers in Kindersley.

"We've got one division champion playing the other division champion," said Wings' GM Ron Rumball. "All you have to do is look at the parity that was in the league over 60 games. You know that it's going to be there over the playoffs."

Game 5 of the playoff series was last night, April 13, in Kindersley. Results were not available due to publication deadlines.

Although there's been some talk over Game 5 being the deciding match in this titanic playoff series, Rumball said he wouldn't go so far as to declare a champion because of last night's result.

"Whoever wins they become the odds-on favourite. But that's as far as it goes, because the other team isn't willing to let the series go with just one victory to the other team.

"This is a best-of-seven series When you're playing for league finals, you very often have to use your seven games."

Game 6 of the MemberCare Cup playoffs is on Friday, April 16, in Weyburn at 7:30 p.m. Game 7, if necessary, is in Kindersley on Sunday, April 18.

Weyburn owed Friday's 5-3 victory over Kindersley to an early four-goal lead established in the first and second periods. In the first, Matt Wheeler and Steve Pearce scored two goals at 5:13 and 14:26 respectively, with Wheeler converting a power play. Rick Wood, Jordan Stevenson, Greg Lasko and Frankie Dicks assisted.

Tyler Mills and Ryan Grona added two more within the first five minutes of the second period, with Grona scoring on a power play. Dicks, Ryan Kuntz, Stevenson and Wood assisted.

Kindersley retaliated with two goals before the end of the period, and added a third goal at 8:33 in the third. But Kindersley failed to tie the game, and allowed Jereme Tendler to score an empty-netter 12 seconds before the end after pulling their man in net.

"I think we played with more consistency on Friday and put some pressure on Kindersley. We got some pucks, took the win early in the game, and that changes the style of the game," said Rumball.

In net, Cale Jordison blocked 20 out of 23 shots from Kindersley. Nathan Deobald blocked 29 of 33 shots fired at Kindersley's net before being switched out for Steve Houghton in the third period.

Deobald had a much stronger night on Saturday, however, as the former Wings' goalie received 23 shots on goal. Jordison received 25 shots, marking the first time this series Weyburn has been outshot by an opponent.

Casey Lee added a power play goal for Kindersley at 5:45 of the first period. Clayton Bastura, who was unable to play Friday because of an injury, tied the game up at 7:04 with a power play goal, assisted by Greg Park.

But Kindersley's Jesse Fischer added a power play goal at 12:11 to put Kindersley up 2-1.

Curtis Bazylinski scored at 19:56 of the second period for the game-winning goal. Though Weyburn narrowed the margin to 3-2 at 16:57 of the third period, with a goal by Jordan Stevenson, they were unable to tie the Klippers.

On Saturday, said Rumball, the Klippers got an early lead on Weyburn and played a hard-checking game from then on. The Wings lacked that same excitement in Saturday's match, and couldn't get an early enough goal that might have changed the game.

SJHL Awards night scheduled

Should the Red Wings win the MemberCare Cup playoffs, the SJHL/Sasktel Awards banquet will be held Tuesday, April 20, at the Weyburn Curling Club.

Tickets are $25 each, and the deadline to purchase tickets is Sunday, April 18. They will be available at the Red Wings office.

Should the Klippers win the playoffs, the awards banquet will be held Wednesday, April 21 in Kindersley.