A 3rd period rally wasn't enough for the Central Plains Capitals to catch the Wild tonight in Manitoba AAA Midget hockey at the PCU Centre.

The Caps fell 2-1, in a back and forth game that could've easily gone the Caps' way with a couple of bounces in their favour. The Caps and Wild were tied at 0 through one, and 3-and-a-half minutes into the second the Wild got onto the board.

The Wild continued to pressure the Caps and just 2 minutes later they scored again, off an unfortunate bounce off the back boards the Caps' goalie Duncan McGovern miss judged. The Caps weren't out of it completely though -- as they mounted their attack -- generating a few good scoring chances off the cycle, but were still unable to get one by the Wild's netminder.

The Caps' hard work paid off halfway through the 3rd period, when Marco Mazza deflected John Jebamani's point shot into the top corner from 20 feet out -- Liam McKenzie also picked up an assist on the play. The Caps tried desperately to get set up in the Wild end as time was expiring, and with the net empty, time expired ending their chances.

The Caps celebrate Mazza's goal in the third

Caps' Assistant Coach Daniel Moar says it comes down to playing a complete game.

"We didn't play a full 60 minutes. The third period we played really strong, we were in their zone for a lot of the time. If we play like that the entire game, it's probably a different outcome. Our guys -- I'm not upset about how they played -- they worked hard, but we need everybody going in a game like this and unfortunately we fell 1 short."

Moar says scoring chances don't come easy against a team like the Wild.

"We didn't really generate a lot of the rush, but like I said the clog the middle up very well and they have good goaltending on their side as well. So quality scoring chances in games like these are few, and far between."

The Caps practice tonight in preparation for tomorrow night's game against Kenora at the BDO Centre, puck drop is set for 8 p.m.