Two defeats and 12 goals conceded was not a good look for Brynas after the first two games, but they managed to make home advantage count in game three, if only just.
That advantage looked like it would never come after a goalless first 40 minutes in which the Gavle side could not profit from a couple of powerplays, but they finally took the lead two minutes into period three, when Anton Rodin set the puck back for Mattias Norlinder to bury.
Midway through the period, Vaxjo hit back when Joel Persson teed up Lukas Elvenes to equalise, but a determined Brynas were in front again five minutes later when Norlinder and Lucas Pettersson combined for their second points each and to set up Bobby Trivigno to retake the lead.
However, they again couldn't hold on, and when Vaxjo won a face-off in the attacking zone, Elvenes found Reid Gardiner in space on the left side and he rifled in another equaliser with just four seconds remaining in regulation time.
In overtime, the home side's chance looked to have gone when Vaxjo survived a powerplay for having too many men on the ice, but with 08:20 played, Jakob Silfverberg netted for the second time this series, with this one much more crucial, as it won the game for Brynas, 3-2.
Back-to-back away wins had already put Farjestad in control of their quarter-final, and their was no surprise that their homecoming to Karlstad went with the form book, running out 2-0 winners at home to Rogle.
Neither side was able to profit from a powerplay apiece in the opening period, but when the visitors' Albin Sundsvik was called for interference six minutes into period two, it took all of six seconds for Farjestad to take advantage through Oskar Steen.
Fresh from scoring a hat-trick in game two, David Tomasek was at it again six minutes later, combining beautifully with Radim Zohorna in the Rogle zone before firing home from the left side.
From then on, Farjestad held on despite giving away a couple more powerplays, but the Angelholm side failed to find a way past Emil Holm, who made 24 saves in the match to record a playoff shutout.
The sides will be back in action on Monday 30th, as Rogle will be looking to keep their season alive and Vaxjo will be aiming to re-establish their two-game lead.