Ben Berard scored his third overtime game-winning goals of the playoffs, lifting the Powell River Kings to an extremely important 3-2 home win over the Prince George Spruce Kings.
Prince George now leads the best-of-seven series 2-1.
The home side got off to the start they wanted, getting goals 14 seconds apart from Neal Samanski and Kevin Obssuth to take a 2-0 lead to the second period.
In the middle frame, Spruce Kings defenceman Jay Keranen scored his fourth of the postseason to get the visitors on the board and early in the third, captain Kyle Johnson drew Prince George level with his fifth of the playoffs.
Prince George put 12 shots on goal in the third, and Powell River had 10, but neither side could find the winner so the stage was set for overtime.
The first OT session failed to produce a deciding goal despite each team putting nine shots on goal. In the second extra session, Prince George’s Dustin Manz was assessed a minor penalty for a blow to the head and Powell River went to the power play.
Almost a minute into the man advantage, Carter Turnbull made a cross-ice feed to Berard who made no mistake and got it past Evan DeBrouwer for the winner.
Game 4 of the series goes Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Powell River.
