The first two games of the two KIJHL's Okanagan Division semifinal series proved once again the playoffs are a whole different season.
The Summerland Steam, who finished 27 points behind the first-place Kelowna Chiefs during the season, posted back-to-back 4-2 victories over the Chiefs at Rutland Arena.
Summerland will look to grab a 3-0 stranglehold on the best-of-7 series as they welcome Kelowna to the Summerland Arena tonight at 7:30 p.m. Game 4 is same time, same place on Tuesday.
In the other semifinal, the third-place Osoyoos Coyotes also grabbed a surprising 2-0 series lead over second-place Princeton Posse. The Coyotes won 4-3 at home on Friday and 5-4 in overtime Saturday at the Princeton and District Arena.
Game 3 goes tonight at 8 p.m. in Princeton, with Game 4 Tuesday at 7:35 p.m. at the Osoyoos Sunbowl Arena.
Game 1 - Steam 4 Kelowna 2: Cooper Holick bagged the winner with 10:29 to play and Summerland scored four goals in the third period to take the opener.
Brock McDonald, Brett Harris and Doug Chadwick also scored for the Steam, who were outshot 37-31.
Braeden Hikichi and Brady Mende scored for the Chiefs, who had nursed a 1-0 lead into the third period.
Game 2 - Steam 4 Kelowna 2: Olli Dickson had the hat trick and assisted on the other goal by Dylan Burton as the Steam stunned the Chiefs for the second straight night.
Dickson got the winner with 2:35 to play and finished the hatty into an empty net with 26 seconds left.
Mitchell Barker and Connor Harding replied for the Chiefs, who again outshot the Steam 40-30.
Brett Huber backstopped both wins for the Steam.
Game 1 - Coyotes 4 Princeton 3: Garrett Kucher scored twice and added two helpers as the Coyotes built a 4-0 lead after one period and hung on to win at the Sunbowl.
Brandon Watson had a goal and two assists and Liam Neary also scored for the Coyotes, who had a 46-39 edge in shots on goal.
Ben Reinbolt scored twice and Devan Suidy the other for Princeton.
Game 2 - Coyotes 5 Princeton 4 (OT): Colin Chmelka scored with 4:01 left in overtime as Osoyoos posted a huge road win.
Princeton had the first nine shots in overtime before Chmelka scored on the first shot by Osoyoos.
Troy Maclise tied the game with 3:24 to go for the Coyotes, who had surrendered a 3-1 lead earlier in the third period.
Kucher, Taylor Jordan and Alex Grupe also scored for the Coyotes, who were outshot 17-6 in the third and 39-33 overall.
Kaleb Boyle, with two, Kurtis Bond and Kyle Moore scored for the Posse.