Overtime magic keeps Coyotes perfect heading into Kelowna

Game 3 shifts to Rutland Arena tonight, Saturday

It was the kind of heartbreak the Osoyoos Coyotes experienced in their stunning upset loss to the Chase Heat in last season’s Okanagan-Shuswap Conference final.

Maybe the hockey gods are on the Coyotes side this time.

Carter Shannon scored with 4:56 to go in the first overtime after teammate Kaleb Comishin tied with game with 22 seconds left in regulation as the Coyotes beat the Kelowna Chiefs 3-2 Wednesday at the Sun Bowl Arena.

Jackson Barrett had the primary assists on both goals as the Coyotes grabbed a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Okanagan Division final.

Devin Sutton had put Kelowna ahead 2-1 with 1:16 to play and it looked like the series might be tied heading to the Rutland Arena for Games 3 and 4 tonight and Saturday. Instead, the pressure shifted from the Coyotes to the Chiefs in a matter of seconds.

Judd Repole also scored for the Coyotes, still unbeaten in the post-season at 6-0.

Juanre Naude had the other goal for Kelowna, opening the scoring in the first period. The Coyotes, who won the opening game 6-1, outshot the Chiefs 38-33.

Also grabbing a 2-0 series lead were the Kimberley Dynamiters, who topped the visiting Columbia Valley Rockies 4-1 in the Eddie Mountain Division final; and the Nelson Leafs, who beat the visiting Castlegar Rebels for the second time in overtime in as many nights in the Neil Murdoch Division final, this time a 4-3 decision.

In the Doug Birks Division final, the Revelstoke Grizzlies beat visiting 100 Mile House Wranglers 5-2 to tie the series at 1-1.

Games 3 and 4 of all four series will be played tonight and Saturday.