Mackenzie Belinski scored a hat trick as the Yellowhead Chiefs rallied from an early two-goal deficit, beating the Central Plains Capitals 5-4 in Game 1 of their best-of-five Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League playoff series Friday night in Shoal Lake.

Jaxon Heeney and Noah Geekie also scored for Yellowhead. Logan Calder, Zak Smith, Logan Rands and Mitchell Wilson tallied for the Capitals.

Belinski scored a pair of third period goals, his second coming at 14:25 of the final frame to complete his hat trick and give the hosts their first lead of the game. Central Plains managed just four shots in the period.

The Capitals jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first period. After Belinski scored to put the Chiefs ahead 1-0, Central Plains responded with goals from Calder, Smith and Rands.

Geekie and Heeney scored before the midway mark of the second to knot the game 3-3, then Wilson restored Central Plains' lead with an even strength goal at 12:54 of the second.

Reese Jones made 22 saves in the win, while Miles Minor stopped 34 taking the loss. Yellowhead outshot Central Plains 39-26 while going 2 for 5 on the power play; Central Plains finished 0 for 3.

The series shifts back to Portage la Prairie for Game 2 on Sunday. Puck drop is set for 1:15 p.m., at the BDO Centre.