It remains somewhat of a mystery as to what’s going on with the Osoyoos Coyotes in the playoffs. Following a more than respectable regular season, the Coyotes seemed poised to make a good run during the post season. However, to this point, nothing but disappointment has materialized and time is quickly running out.
The latest setback was Game Three of the Bill Ohlhausen Division Best-of-Seven, Semi-Final Playoff on Monday night in Armstrong, a 7-4 loss to the North Okanagan Knights. That gives the Knights a commanding 3-0 series advantage and chance to wrap things up at home on Wednesday night.
Osoyoos got off to a promising start, taking a 2-0 first period lead into the dressing room from goals by Coletyn Boyarski and Jack Henderson on a shorthanded breakaway.
Just past the midway mark of the second period, North Okanagan tied the game 2-2 with two goals in only 38-seconds, before going in front 3-2 late in the period. The Coyotes were able to draw even at 3-3 after 40 minutes, thanks to Jack Henderson’s second of the night on the powerplay.
Everything began to unravel early in the third, starting with a man advantage marker by the Knights 55-seconds in. By the midway point of the final period, Osoyoos was down 6-3 and the outcome looked pretty evident from there. Coletyn Boyarski got his second of the game and fourth of the playoffs to make it 6-4. A short time later, North Okanagan put things away for good by scoring a shorthanded tally with Rhett Harkot on the bench in favour of an extra attacker.
Hunter Harwood had three assists and Joe Davidson a pair of helpers.
Harkot suffered this third straight loss of the post season in a game that saw the Coyotes outshot 47-33.
The Knights continue to dominate special teams play, notching three powerplay goals and adding a second shorthanded effort in this one.
As mentioned, Osoyoos will be looking to avoid the sweep on Wednesday night (Feb. 22nd), again in Armstrong.
