Breaking through for three goals and 33 shots on net was still not enough to earn the Powell River Kings a win as the Vernon Vipers took a 3-0 series lead with a 4-3 victory in Game 3.
Powell River struck first and got the series' first power-play goal when Cohen Adair scored at 2:49 of the first period set up by Chad Niddery and Jon Jutzi. But Vernon replied near the 15-minute mark with a power-play marker of their own from Michael Zalewski, who netted his second of the series.
Vernon scored again 50 seconds later with Marcus Basara doing the honours for a 2-1 Snakes lead after 20 minutes.
In the second, the Vipers increased their lead to two when Malcolm Lyles tallied his fourth of the playoffs. The Kings were undeterred though, and got a shorthanded tally from Chris Williams to get within one going into the third.
The power play came through once again for Powell River at the start of the third as Niddery scored at the 5:50 mark to tie the game 3-3. In search of their first win of the finals, Powell River searched for the go-ahead goal but couldn't find it and at 13:24 of the third, Vernon's John Knisley potted the game-winning goal with an unassisted effort.
Powell River put forth a concerted effort to get more shots on goal and were successful, outshooting Vernon in the first and second periods and 33-20 for the game. But their first-period lead was the only one they'd enjoy in the game.
Some emotion boiled over in the middle of the second period as several players were sent off at the 11:36 mark for roughing and roughing after the whistle.
Malcolm Lyles was named 1st Star and finished with a goal and assist as did 2nd Star Niddery.
Game 4 is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Wesbild Centre in Vernon.
