Three unanswered goals in the third lifted the Westshore Wolves to a 3-2 home ice victory over the Victoria Cougars in game 3 of the teams’ Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League playoff series Saturday.
The win cut the Cougars series lead in the South Division semifinal to 2-1, with game 4 happening today (Feb. 25) at 3:30 p.m. at Esquimalt’s Archie Browning Sports Centre.
After goals from Jaden McNulty in the first period and Sean Patten in the second gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead, the Wolves came roaring back in the third, getting an unassisted goal by Brandon Tutte at 4:27, an even-strength marker from Benjamin Duffin at 7:09 and the ultimate winner on the power play from Keegan Durrance less than two minutes later.
The Wolves outshot the Cougars for a third straight game, this time 30-17, and kept Victoria goaltender Patrick Osterman busy. Both teams went one for six on the power play.
Westshore was playing without star forward Cameron Coutre. The reason for his absence was unknown at the time of this writing.
Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday (Feb. 28, 7 p.m.) back at The Q Centre, with game 6, if necessary, set for Thursday (7 p.m.) at Archie Browning.
Other series involving South Division teams see Saanich leading Kerry Park 2-1 and Campbell River leading Peninsula 2-0 with game 3 happening today in North Saanich.