Facing elimination Tuesday night, the Carlyle Cougars rallied to pick up a 5-2 win on home ice over the Bienfait Coalers. The Coalers lead the best-of-five Big Six quarterfinal series 2-1, with game four back in Bienfait on Friday.

The Cougars jumped out into the lead in the first period, with two goals coming just 18 seconds apart.

The first came from the stick of Brent MacLean, who scored with 8:11 to go in the opening frame. He was assisted on the goal by Korby Boutin and Branden Lequyer. Then, with 7:53 remaining, Kelly Currie found the back of the net behind Jackson Walliser, making it 2-0 for the home team. The goal was assisted by Mitchell Morrison and Brett Turgeon.

The Coalers would get on the board in the second period when Wyatt Garagan scored at the 4:55 mark. His goal was unassisted and was promptly answered by the Cougars.

Less than a minute later, Turgeon scored a goal of his own to restore the lead to two goals. Burrie and Zach Brown assisted on the goal.

The deficit was reduced back to one 45 seconds later when Matt Bourassa beat Landon Audet. The power play goal was assisted by Blaine Herzberg and Dylan Herzberg. It would be the last of the offence mustered by the Coalers.

With 9:06 left in the second, Morrisson scored a goal of his own, assisted by Cooper Fox and Clayton Geiger. An insurance marker was added late in the third as Ben Johnstone scored his second goal in as many games. He was assisted on the goal by Fox.

Game four of the series is set for Bienfait Friday night, with an 8:00 p.m. puck drop.