A late lead turned into a 4-3 overtime loss as the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks saw Game 3 slip away against the Creemore Coyotes.
The game got off to a rocky start, with Creemore netting the first two goals of the game.
A shorthanded goal by Colin Kijowski five minutes into the game made it 1-0, and the Coyotes followed it up with a goal by J.D. Falconer at 11:29 to make it a 2-0 game.
The Winterhawks stemmed the tide late in the period when Miles MacLean struck on the power play at 18:35 from Mike Fiegehen and Brock Pinnell.
The second period was much friendlier to the visitors, who tied the game at 4:28 when Logan Freiburger converted from Trevor Smith and Justin Donnelly to make it 2-2.
The Winterhawks killed off a penalty late in the 2nd and used that momentum to take the lead at 17:52 when Curtis Johnston scored from Fiegehen and Donnelly to give the Winterhawks a 3-2 advantage heading to the 3rd period.
The one goal advantage stayed intact until late in the 3rd period when Falconer tied things up at 16:45 to send the game to overtime.
In the extra frame, each team had an opportunity on the power play, but shortly after a Winterhawks power play opportunity ended, Falconer completed the comeback and ended the game in favour of the Coyotes at 10:49 of overtime.
The Winterhawks remain ahead overall, with a 2-1 series advantage and still hold a distinct home ice advantage as the series shifts back to Saugeen Shores.
Game 4 will be this Friday night, February 17th, at The Plex in Port Elgin at 8:30 p.m., followed by Game 5 in Creemore the following night.
If necessary, Game 6 will be in Southampton on Sunday February 19th at 5:00 p.m.
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