Logan Messer tied the game with just 20-seconds left in regulation and Rylan Konecsni (pictured above) scored at 2:22 of three-on-three overtime to give the Osoyoos Coyotes a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the Kelowna Chiefs, Friday night in Rutland.
Jonas Bourchier got Osoyoos on the board first in the opening period, the only time the Coyotes led, prior to Konecsni’s heroics.
The Chiefs were ahead 3-1, late in the second period, when Nelson Webster and Jarrod Gale tallied roughly two-and-a-half minutes apart to send the game to the third period even at 3-3.
Kelowna took a 4-3 advantage on the powerplay in the third, before Messer’s tying goal, with Hunter Arntsen on the bench for an extra attacker. Shots were 36-29 in favour of the Chiefs, the lone puck on net in overtime being Konecsni’s winner.
Austin Rampone and Bronson Seymour each added a pair of assists.
Osoyoos thought it had tied things 4-4 with 3:33 remaining, only to have the goal waved off.
The Coyotes have won all four meetings against Kelowna, so far this season.
Coupled with Summerland’s loss to North Okanagan, Osoyoos has regained its six point cushion over the Steam in the race for the Bill Ohlhausen Division’s final playoff spot and is now just two points back of third place Kelowna.
Saturday night (Jan. 20th) sees the Coyotes travel to Armstrong to face the Knights in another important divisional match-up.
