Matt Guerts’ wrist-shot seven minutes into the third period broke a 2-2 deadlock as the Osoyoos Coyotes moved to within a game of the Cyclone Taylor Cup Friday with a 4-2 victory over the Castlegar Rebels at the SunBowl Arena.
The 20-year-old defenceman snuck around a Rebel before rifling a puck over the shoulder of Alex Ross, mere minutes after a rapid exchange of goals turned a 1-1 stalemate into a 2-2 thriller.
The Rebels opened the scoring for the fourth straight game when Anthony DeLong tucked the puck underneath a sliding Kyle Laslo for his fifth goal of the playoffs just 5:01 into the game.
The Coyotes replied thanks to Josh Gray later in the frame, and it took a further 30:25 of playing time before Osoyoos captain Thierry Martine bashed a rebound past Ross to give the home side the lead.
Diego Bartlett evened the score at two just 31 seconds later, taking advantage of a miscue by Coyotes blueliner Jordan Simpson to break in alone and beat Laslo.
The Rebels had two glorious chances to draw back after Guerts’ go-ahead tally, one on a DeLong breakaway, the other on a late power play before Brock Anderson steered a long clearance into the open cage in the game’s final minute.
The Rebels now have their backs to the wall heading home for Game 6 Saturday night (7:30 p.m., Complex).
A Castlegar victory would send the KIJHL final to a seventh and deciding game, which would be played Monday in the South Okanagan.