Owen Nelson's hat-trick goal broke a tie late in the third period and lifted the Prince Albert Mintos to a 1-0 series lead over the host Swift Current Legionnaires tonight in Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League action.

Swift Current jumped out to an early two-goal lead at the InnovationPlex but relinquished it as the Mintos scored a trio in the second period and eventually won 4-3 in the first-round matchup.

Prince Albert's Nelson netted his third of the night deflecting a William Chabot point shot past Legionnaires goalie Berney Weston with 8:17 remaining in regulation.

Swift Current had tied it up at 3-3 4:20 earlier when captain Kade Stringer scored on a power play.

The Mintos' three goals in the middle frame all came in the back half of the period and within eight minutes of each other. Carter Cole opened the scoring for the visitors and Nelson found the back of the net twice on the power play late in the period putting Prince Albert up 3-2.

Legionnaires forward Jace Egland opened the game's scoring on a penalty shot and Connor Rieger scored on the power play just over two minutes later extending the Swift Current lead.

Weston made 31 saves in the loss while Mintos netminder Brady Holtvogt made 29 stops for the win.

Game two in the best-of-five series goes tomorrow night in Prince Albert at 7 p.m. and game three is on Tuesday back in Swift Current.