It’s true these last few regular season games don’t really mean that much to the Osoyoos Coyotes. They already know they’ll finish second in the Bill Ohlhausen Division and likely face the North Okanagan Knights in the opening round of the playoffs, beginning at home on February 17th. However, every team hopes to enter the post season with confidence and momentum. The way it has gone lately, the Coyotes simply want to start the playoffs healthy.
Despite the return of Jack Henderson, Jarrod Gale, Zach Leslie and the addition of newcomer Jayden Attwood, Osoyoos still seemed a bit out of sorts and it showed in a 4-2 loss to the Summerland Steam on Wednesday night at the Sun Bowl Arena.
After a scoreless opening period, the Coyotes fell behind 1-0 less than a minute into the second, but managed to tie the game 1-1 on a Coletyn Boyarski goal before the period was out.
Already shorthanded late in the second period, Marko Pavlovic took a needless penalty just as time on the clock expired. That put the Osoyoos Coyotes two men down to begin the third period and they paid the price as Summerland scored to go ahead 2-1. Reese MacLean was able to once again draw the Coyotes even under three minutes later, but shortly thereafter more penalty troubles saw Jarrod Gale assessed a five minute major for boarding. The Steam took advantage, moving back in front 3-2 and never looking back. An empty netter with only 29-seconds remaining made the final 4-2.
Summerland outshot Osoyoos 35-33. Kenny Gerow suffered the loss in net.
As mentioned, a few banged up players found their way back into the line-up, however regulars Carter Yarish, Joe Davidson, Zach Park, Jack Pass and Ethan Floris were all scratches due to injury issues. That’s some pretty significant names watching from the sidelines.
The Coyotes now embark on a two game weekend road trip to Chase on Friday night (Feb. 3rd) and 100 Mile House, Saturday night (Feb. 4th).
