Roadrunner Troy Maclise scored twice as ther Osoyoos Coyotes clipped the North Okanagan Knights 3-2 Friday night before 300 fans at the Sun Bowl.
Game 2 in the best-of-seven Okanagan Division final series went Saturday night in Osoyoos. The third and fourth games go Monday and Tuesday night in Armstrong.
“We looked like we just came through a seven-game series,” said Knights’ head coach Shawn Webb. “We were lethargic. We got ouskated and outhit. I’m not overly concerned because we outchanced them two to one in the second and third period. It was like a basketball game out there with the puck bouncing all over the place.”
Aaron Azevedo also scored for the Coyotes, who lost to the Knights in seven games last year.
Defenceman Matt Halvorson and Blake Culbert replied with powerplay snipes for the Knights, who were outshot 31-22.
The Knights used Vernon Midget affiliates Cole Woodliffe and Jagger Williamsson in the series opener. D-man Layne Greene of the Midgets drew in for Saturday night, along with veteran Colin Robin, who sat Game 1.
Lawrence Lanagan took the win, Zach Dyment the loss.
Viper affiliate Dallas Calvin set up the equalizer midway through the third, and the winner, with 20 seconds left, as Beaver Valley Nitehawks edged the host Nelson Leafs before 720 fans in Nelson.
