Paul Remillard and Clint Lucier scored in the first period and Derek Mohr potted the eventual game winner 13:48 into the middle frame as Red River held on for a 3-2 victory over the Aces Wednesday night in Ste. Anne.

The Wild now lead the Carillon Senior Hockey League's best-of-seven final two games to one.

"It wasn't pretty but it's a road win," said Red River coach Mike Gilmore. "We had a lot of blue line turnovers and with that team you can't do that. We adjusted and that's a greasy playoff win. We'll take it."

Miguel Rondeau and Pat Normandeau did the goal scoring for the Aces.

Normandeau's goal midway through the third period cut the Wild's lead to 3-2 but Ste. Anne couldn't squeeze the equalizer past Red River goaltender Marshall Cox.

"The last 30 minutes we started playing our game," said Aces coach Kevin Lansard. "That's something we can build off of. I'm excited that we can get back at it Thursday feeling that we finished strong and that they were hanging on. We were finally starting to play the way we play so let's get back at it."

Game four goes tonight in St. Jean.

"You can't sit back and relax," said Wild captain Cole Brunet. "They're a good team. They're a smart team. They got some skilled guys and we just got to be ready for them."