The script flipped with a different ending in the HJHL South Semifinal on Friday.
The Cannex Cochrane Generals jumped out to an early lead, bucking the trend through two games, with the Carstar Okotoks Bisons rallying late only to have the visitors hang on for a gritty 4-2 triumph Friday night at the Murray Arena to stave off elimination in Game 3 of the best-of-five second round playoff series.
The Generals earned a 2-0 advantage through 20 via first period tallies from Brendan Thubron and captain James Quaife.
Okotoks, trailing for the first time in the series, scratched its way back into the contest with a two-goal middle stanza as puck moving defenceman Caden Scott and sniper Sam Callahan lit the lamp to even the score through 40 minutes.
In the third, Generals forward Cole Whelan potted a rebound chance on the rush and Thubron iced the result with a well-place empty net tally from his own end in the final minute.
Generals goalie Isaias Maddigan made 40 saves, 22 in the third period alone as Okotoks poured it on.
The Bisons have a chance to close the series out Saturday with Game 4 switching locales to Cochrane’s SLS Centre at 8:15 p.m. If the series goes the distance, Game 5 is back at the Murray Arena on Sunday, March 2 at 3:15 p.m.
Awaiting the winner in the South Final is the third-seed Medicine Hat Cubs who completed a four-game series victory over Strathmore’s Agra Risk Wheatland Kings on Friday.
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Series schedule
Game 1: Feb. 21, 8 p.m. Generals at Bisons. Okotoks wins 3-2.
Game 2: Feb. 23, 3 p.m. Bisons at Generals. Okotoks wins 4-3 (OT)
Game 3: Feb. 28, 8 p.m. Generals at Bisons. Cochrane wins 4-2
Game 4: March 1, 8:15 p.m. Bisons at Generals
Game 5: March 2, 3:15 p.m. Generals at Bisons
