Knights in 3-0 hole

Osoyoos Coyotes edge North Okanagan Knights 4-3 Friday in KIJHL playoff action in Armstrong...

For the third straight game in their opening round Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoff series, the North Okanagan Knights jumped out to a 2-1 lead on the Osoyoos Coyotes.

For the third straight game, though, the Coyotes came back.

Third-period goals by Drew Carter and Carter Robinson, on a powerplay, snapped a 2-2 tie and lifted the Coyotes to a 4-3 win over the Knights in front of 260 fans Friday at the Nor-Val Sports Centre, and 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Game four went Saturday in Armstrong. Game five, if needed, would be Monday in Osoyoos.

After Carter opened the scoring Friday, Jack Berger tied the game at 17:44 of the first period for the Knights on a powerplay.

Knights player of the game Brady Marzocco, with his first of  two goals, gave North Okanagan the lead at 3:38 of the second before Colton Rhodes tied it for Osoyoos on a powerplay at 14:09.

Marzocco, with his third of the series, pulled the Knights to within a goal at 18:21 of the third.

For the third straight game, the Coyotes heavily outshot North Okanagan, 47-14. Daniel Paul took the loss for the Knights, Stephen Heslop picked up the win.

The Kelowna Chiefs dumped the Summerland Steam 5-2 Friday to take a two games to one lead in the other Okanagan-Shuswap Division first-round series.

 

Vernon Morning Star