The Victoria Cougars looked to be on their way to a third straight win only to fall 5-2 to the Kerry Park Islanders on Thursday.
The Cougars now lead the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League semifinal series 2-1.
Game 4 goes in Kerry Park on Saturday, while Game 5 is back in Victoria at the Archie Browning Sports Centre, 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Trevor Chown scored at even strength in the first and Josh Wyatt had two chances to bury his rebound from the slot while on the powerplay early in the second period as the Cougars went up 2-0.
But minutes later, during four-on-four hockey, brothers Cole and Kyle Peterson scored twice in eight seconds to tie the game.
Kyle scored on a two-on-one with Josh Garneau. Victoria won the ensuing faceoff when play restarted at centre ice, but the puck skidded past the defenceman and Cole Peterson skated in all alone on a breakaway, beating goalie Bryce Halverson before the previous goal could be announced.
Things got worse for the Cougars, who opened the third period on the powerplay, only to give up a shorthanded goal to Brandon Nicholson just 43 seconds in. Cole Thomson then scored six minutes into the third to make it 4-2.
The Cougars had plenty of scoring chances during the game and a couple more in the last minute of play, but Cole Peterson was able to score his second of the game into an empty net.
Islanders goalie Matt Chester was named first star, stopping 33 of Victoria’s shots, including plenty of high quality scoring chances.
