The playoff series between the Osoyoos Coyotes and Summerland Steam is now a best-of-three affair after the Steam eked out a thrilling 5-4 overtime win in Summerland Wednesday night.

The best-of-seven series is now tied at two games apiece, with game five to be played Saturday night at the Sun Bowl Arena.

After dropping game one on Saturday night on home ice, the Coyotes rebounded with a convincing 6-2 win in game two Monday night.

They skated into Summerland for game three Tuesday night and turned in a solid performance and came out on top 7-4.

Realizing they would be facing elimination if they didn’t win Wednesday night, Jack Mills was the hero as he scored with only 46 seconds in the first overtime period to give the Steam the victory and tie the series.

The Coyotes took an early lead in game four as captain Rainer Glimpel scored a power play goal three minutes into the game. Bobby LaRue provided the only assist.

The Steam tied the score three minutes later with a power play goal of their own.

Summerland took the lead only 11 seconds later to grab a 2-1 lead, but the Coyotes tied things up with another power play goal by Reid Wilson late in the first period.

The Steam scored 12 seconds into the second period to grab a 3-2 lead, but Hunter Johnson tied things up once again, with an assist from Steele Anderson, five minutes later.

The game remained tied at 3-3 until Cody Allen scored for the Coyotes, again on the power play, midway through the third period. Ryan Morrell and Rainer Glimpel added assists.

Playing with desperation knowing a loss would put them in a very deep hole, the Steam tied things up with just under five minutes remaining in regulation time as Adam Jones scored, setting the stage for Mills’ overtime heroics.

The Coyotes outshot the Steam 34-24, but managed only one shot on net in the overtime period.

Game five on Saturday night will begin one hour later than normal as the Atom Fiesta tournament is taking place at the Sun Bowl Arena all weekend. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.

Game six will be played in Summerland on Sunday night starting at 6 p.m.

If a seventh-and-deciding game is needed, it would be played Monday night at the Sun Bowl Arena. Game time will be 7:30 p.m.

The Coyotes finished 20 points ahead of the Steam during the regular season.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times