It looked pretty dismal for the Osoyoos Coyotes as time was winding down on Wednesday night in Armstrong. After all, knowing their season was on the line, the Coyotes trailed 6-4 with less than two minutes remaining in regulation. However, it seemed as though the Hockey Gods weren’t quite ready to have the players clean out their lockers.
Coletyn Boyarski’s fourth goal of the game at 18:38 gave a bit of hope, making it 6-5. Then at 19:19, with goaltender Kenny Gerow on the bench in favour of an extra attacker, Payton McDonald-Corea’s shot from the blueline found its way into the net, tying things 6-6.
Osoyoos carried that momentum into sudden death overtime, taking just 1:19 to earn its first victory of the series as Reese MacLean (pictured above) banged home the puck from a goal mouth scramble, making the final 7-6.
For the second straight game, the Coyotes took a 2-0 lead, only to see it slip away. The score was 3-3 after the first period and 4-4 following 40 minutes. When North Okanagan went up 6-4 with just five minutes remaining, it appeared as though the result would be a series sweep.
Boyarski added an assist to his four goal performance. Joe Davidson had a goal and three helpers. MacLean also had one assist to accompany his overtime winner.
Gerow was credited with the netminding win, despite allowing six to get past him. Osoyoos outshot the Knights 45-31, which included the lone shot in overtime.
Now trailing the Bill Ohlhausen Division Best-of-Seven, Semi-Final 3-1, the Coyotes hope to draw even closer in Game Five on Friday night (Feb. 24th), back at the Sun Bowl Arena.
