The Summerland Steam ride into Armstrong to face the North Okanagan Saturday.
The Steam, winners of their last two, haven’t played a Kootenay International Junior Hockey League match since Family Day on Feb. 8 when they defeated the Princeton Posse 4-3 at the Summerland Arena.
The Steam found themselves down 3-1 early in the second period when they started their comeback late in the middle frame. Jack Mills scored on the power play from a setup by Cody Egilson and Lathan McKinney. In the third period, Wyatt Gale scored shorthanded as he was setup by Braden Eliuk to tie the game at three at 9:26. Mills buried his second of the night at 8:09 with assists to Egilson and Paulsen Lautard.
The Steam outshot the Posse 32-13. Matthew Koster made 10 saves in the win.
The Steam (30-15-0-0-2 ) have played the Knights (13-25-3-0-5) five times this season winning four. They have outscored them 16-8. On Sunday, they host the Neil Murdoch Division leaders, the Beaver Valley Nitehawks at 2 p.m. The Steam won their lone meeting 5-3 in Beaver Valley. The Nitehawks are 31-10-3-0-3 on the season.
The Steam will open the KIJHL playoffs against the Kelowna Chiefs on Feb.23 at the Summerland Arena at 7:30 p.m. Game 2 is on Feb.25 at the same time. The series then shifts to Rutland Arena in Kelowna on Feb.26 and 27 for Games 3 and 4 at 7 p.m. If necessary, Game 5 returns to Summerland Arena on Feb.29 at 7:30 p.m., Game 6 is at Rutland Arena on March 1 at 7 p.m. and Game 7 is scheduled for March 2 at Summerland Arena at 7:30 p.m.
In eight games against the Chiefs, the Steam is 6-2-0.
