Josh Pilon (No. 10 black), a forward with the Summerland Steam, crashes the net as Osoyoos Coyotes’ goaltender Brett Soles covers up a loose puck while surrounded with defenceman during first period action Saturday night at the Sun Bowl Arena. The Steam upset the Coyotes 5-0 to win the opening game in the best-of-seven series. However, the Coyotes bounced back with a crucial 6-2 win Monday night. Games three and four were played in Summerland Tuesday and Wednesday, while game five will be played in Osoyoos Saturday evening. (Keith Lacey photo)
The Osoyoos Coyotes picked a horrible time to play their worst game of the season to open their divisional final series against Summerland Steam, but they bounced back on Monday with a decisive victory.
After easily sweeping aside the North Okanagan Knights in four-straight games to open the playoffs, the Coyotes didn’t execute on offence and came out on the short end of a 5-0 decision to Summerland before a big hometown crowd Saturday night at the Sun Bowl Arena.
Goaltender Matthew Kostiw was solid all night, especially in the first period as the Coyotes fired 17 shots on net.
Wyatt Gale scored one goal in each period, including the opening goal of the contest 10 minutes into the first period, to lead the Steam to victory.
Knowing they would be in very deep trouble if they fell behind 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, the Coyotes bounced back nicely on Monday night as they controlled play the entire game in registering a comfortable 6-2 victory to even the series.
After Summerland took the lead once again with an early power play goal, the Coyotes finally got the break they needed when Shannon Carter scored a shorthanded goal with just over seven minutes remaining in the opening period to tie the score.
Judd Repole put the Coyotes ahead to stay three minutes later, with assists going to Ryan Morrell and Drew Carter.
It was the Bobby LaRue show in the second period as the talented winger scored three consecutive goals eight minutes apart to blow the game open and give the Coyotes a 5-1 lead after two periods of play.
Captain Rainer Glimpel and Braeden Tuck both assisted on two of LaRue’s goals.
Drew Carter scored an early power play goal in the third period to give the Coyotes an insurmountable 6-1 lead.
Gale scored a late power play goal for the Steam to round out the scoring.
With the Atom Fiesta hockey tournament taking over the Sun Bowl Arena this coming weekend and events taking place in Summerland as well, it has been very difficult to line up ice time to complete this series, said Coyotes owner Randy Bedard.
Games three and four of the series took place in Summerland on Tuesday and Wednesday night, respectively.
Game five will be played Saturday night at the Sun Bowl Arena, with the game starting an hour later than the normal time of 7:35 p.m. due to the Atom Fiesta.
If a sixth game is needed, it would be played Sunday evening in Summerland with game time set to begin at 6 p.m.
If a seventh-and-deciding game is needed, it would be played Monday night at the Sun Bowl Arena with the usual starting time of 7:35 p.m.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
