Central Plains Capitals are in tough in the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League playoffs.

They fell 3-2 to Winnipeg Wild last night at the Bell/MTS Iceplex last night, and trail the best of 5 quarter-final series 2-1.

The Caps opened the scoring, on a goal from Tyler van Deynze in the second period. They closed the scoring as well, with Tanner Boyle connecting in the third.

Between that, the Wild potted three past Rhett Boschman in the Caps' net.

Caps' coach Brad Gnidzieko says the team's effort was fantastic.

"To a man, they put everything into it," he says, "That rink hasn't been kind to us, but I thought it was our best game that we've played in that rink. I thought our goaltender was spectacular. Rhett (Boschman), for a 15 year old, not having that many games played this year, has shown the poise of a third year goalie, for sure. I would say he's one guy who that really has been able to handle the magnitude of the situation, and that's exactly what you want out of your goaltender."

Gnidzieko feels a three minute span in the third period was their undoing, as the Wild scored three goals.

"We made a few mistakes, and a team like the Wild, they capitalize," he says, "It's as simple as that. Sometimes you're trying a little bit too hard, and that's the story of the game here. Just a few mistakes on our part in a short period of time."

The Caps will try to stave off elimination tomorrow night at the BDO Centre. Game time's 7:45.