Box Score
Lethbridge – Heading into the final game of the season, the task was clear for the Lethbridge Pronghorns, win and you're in, but the Calgary Dinos had other ideas, ending the 'Horns playoff aspirations with a 2-1 win.
 
Dominic Russo scored both Dino goals, while Chris Rushworth scored the lone marker for the Pronghorns.
 
With the loss the 'Horns fall to 3-7-2 on the season and the loss also puts the Winnipeg Wesmen into the playoffs. The win was the Dinos ninth in a row and they finished the conference schedule with a 9-3-0 record and will host the Alberta Golden Bears next weekend in a one game Prairie Division quarter-final.
 
With the importance of the result weighing on the Pronghorns, they got off to a very tentative start and seemed to be disjointed offensively, while the Dinos played freely, putting pressure on the 'Horns back line.
 
The Dinos opened the scoring off a corner kick in the 22^nd minute. Mitch Melanson swung the ball into the box and Jorge Leon Gomex got a head on it. 'Horns keeper Peter Desmond made the intial save but could not hold on and Dominic Russo found himself all alone with a empty net.
 
Opening the second half with their playoff lives on the line, the 'Horns started with some pressure but could not find the back of the net.
 
Chris Rushworth had a pair of chances; his first shot just slid wide of the net and off a cross from Stephen Primeau, he deflected the ball just wide short side.
 
Rushworth was back at it in the 63^rd minute, his long crack of a shot from 25-yards out beat Dino keeper Hunter Brett but not the crossbar.
 
Needing two goals to advance, the 'Horns continued to push forward but every time the 'Horns pushed into the offensive end, the Dinos, who were more than happy to sit back in a defensive shell, kicked the ball out of their side of the field.
 
Finally with 10 minutes remaining the Pronghorns constant pressure paid off, Rushworth picked up a loose ball in the Dino penalty area and beat Brett to the low left corner to tie the game.
 
With the 'Horns still thinking about getting they go ahead goal, the Dinos capitalized on a miscue in the 'Horns back line and Russo found himself all alone with an empty net to regain the lead.
 
With their playoff lives put back on life support, the 'Horns wouldn't go down without a fight, but just could not connect offensively.
 
The 'Horns ended the game with a 16-9 shot advantage, including 12 in the second half, but only found the net four times.