The Prince Albert Northern Bears will need to rattle off three straight wins if they want to keep their quest for a Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League championship alive.
After a 5-1 loss to the Notre Dame Hounds in Wilcox Saturday, the fourth-ranked Bears are now down 2-0 in the best-of-five quarter-final ahead of a third game at the Art Hauser Centre at 7 p.m. Monday.
Although they fired 29 shots on goal and had six power play chances, the Bears could only solve Hounds goaltender Kaitlyn Ross on one occasion as Jadyn Kushniruk brought the visitors within two goals with 14:45 left in regulation.
Claire Nimegeers scored twice for the fifth-seeded Hounds, while Kendra Zuchotzki dished out a pair of helpers.
Lyndsey Janes, Ally Kosteniuk and Sophie Young had a goal and an assist each for the hosts.
Scout Anderson got the start in goal for the Bears and made 15 saves.
If the Bears can win at home on Monday, the two sides would travel back to the Duncan McNeill Arena for game four on Wednesday at 8 p.m.
A fifth and deciding game, if needed, would be held at the Art Hauser Centre at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Meanwhile, the other two quarter-final matchups can end as soon as Sunday night.
The second-seeded Regina Rebels hold a 2-0 lead over the seventh-ranked Melville Prairie Fire, while the third-seeded Swift Current Wildcats have the same advantage over the sixth-ranked Battlefords Sharks.
