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.
