As the series shifted to Melville for Game 3, it was the home crowd that jumped to its feet early. Jadon Kokosha opened the scoring just under two minutes in, snapping a glove-side shot on a partial breakaway to give the Millionaires a quick 1–0 lead.
Melville came out flying, but the Terriers weathered the early storm on the road. Thanks in large part to 13 first-period saves from Callum Creig, Yorkton headed into the intermission down just a goal.
The Terriers found their legs in the middle frame and evened things up on the power play. Tyler Palin slid a cross-ice feed to Gavin Bartha, who buried his third goal in as many games past Matt Spencer-Dahl. However, the Mills responded late in the period, as Preston Baerwald jammed home his third of the playoffs with just 22 seconds remaining to restore the lead.
Early in the third, Melville extended that advantage. Just 1:40 in, Kale Margolis finished off a feed from Wesley Olson to make it 3–1.
But the Terriers had plenty left in the tank.
With under seven minutes to play, Yorkton mounted a comeback — led by their top line. After some slick stick work from William Léonard, the puck found Gabriel Courchesne in the slot, and he made no mistake, wiring home his second of the postseason.
Moments later, Bartha dazzled again, weaving into the offensive zone before threading a perfect backdoor pass to Jye Zawatsky, who tied the game 3–3. The goal — Zawatsky’s first of the playoffs — sent the travelling Terriers faithful into a frenzy.
Regulation solved nothing, sending the game to overtime for the first time in the series.
And in the extra frame, it was a hometown hero delivering the dagger.
Vinay Junek buried the overtime winner off a rebound created by Bartha, capping off a dramatic comeback and giving the Terriers a 2–1 series lead.
Creig was phenomenal between the pipes, turning aside 30 shots in the victory.
Game 4 goes Friday night in Melville, with puck drop set for 7:00 PM.
