Individual player dominance and lopsided games were the rule for the first three quarterfinal games Wednesday.

Not the nightcap. Mahtomedi fought back to erase a two-goal deficit in a 5-2 victory against Delano that wasn’t decided until the Zephyrs scored three goals in the final 4:22 of the third period.

No. 4 seed Mahtomedi (21-8) advances to face No. 1 seed Warroad at 1 p.m. Friday in the semifinal round.

Ahead 2-0 in the second period, No. 5 seed Delano (22-7) seemed poised to kill a Zephyrs’ power play until a dynamite pass from Max Pieper and finish by Billy Buttermore.

“As the coaches say, sometimes a quick shot is better than a hard shot,” Buttermore said of his strike to the far upper-corner of the net. “That was a huge momentum boost.”

Individual dominance and lopsided games that finished in running time marked the first three quarterfinals Wednesday.

The nightcap at Xcel Energy Center offered something completely different – compelling hockey played by two balanced teams that kept fans intrigued until the final horn.

If that’s the type of game you expect when the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds collide, then Delano and Mahtomedi did not disappoint.

Mahtomedi battled back from a two-goal deficit to win 5-2, a victory not assured until late in the third period.

The fourth-seeded Zephyrs tied the game on Adam Johnson’s goal with 4:22 left in the third period. Teammate Ethan Peterson set the play in motion by hitting Johnson in stride at the far blue line with a perfect pass.

Mahtomedi’s first lead of the game followed just 1:08 later as JD Metz scored. Ahead 3-2, the Zephyrs (21-8) added a Nikoli Dulak goal and an empty-netter to close out the game.

They advance to face No. 1 seed Warroad at 1 p.m. Friday in the semifinal round.

No. 5 seed Delano (22-7) scored two goals less than two minutes apart in the first period for a 2-0 lead. Jesse Peterson buried a pass from Trevor Oja on the power play at 10:03. Then Gunnar Paulson struck, gathering the puck near the Mahtomedi crease before going wide enough to slide the puck past goaltender Ben Dardis at 12:00. Oja was credited with the second assist.

Delano had its 12-game winning streak snapped. Mahtomedi has allowed just eight goals in its past seven games – all victories.

Check back later for more on the game.