Through their first 24 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League games this season, the North Okanagan Knights scored four or more goals only three times.
The Knights erupted for four in the first period Friday night.
Still, it took Graham Watkins’ third consecutive goal of the game into an empty net with 53 seconds left to seal a 5-3 win over the Grand Forks Border Bruins in a penalty-filled affair in front of 160 fans at the Nor-Val Sports Centre.
The Knights (5-15-1-4) took on the Chiefs (13-7-2-0) in Kelowna Saturday.
Colin Robin had three assists for the Knights, who jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead on goals by Scott Latwat (3rd) and Layne Green (4th).
Watkins, who has a team-leading 10 goals on the year, scored twice in the opening frame which saw the Knights up 4-2.
The Border Bruins (11-12-0-2) got to within 4-3 late in the third before Watkins put the game away.
North Okanagan went 1-9 with the powerplay, the Bruins were 0-6.
Tristan Quiring picked up the win in goal, making 19 saves as North Okanagan outshot the Bruins 37-22.
The victory moved the Knights into sole possession of fourth place in the Okanagan Shuswap Division, two points ahead of the idle Princeton Posse who have three games in hand.
