The PG Cougars are a longshot to make the playoffs but there’s enough time left for them to make a charge at the Seattle Thunderbirds.
The Thunderbirds hold down the last WHL Western Conference wild-card spot, leading the Cougars by eight points.
Prince George is also two points behind the Tri-City Americans.
The Americans have been in the tank going 1-7 since trading starting goalie Beck Warm to the Edmonton Oil Kings on January 1st.
In those eight games, Tri-City has been outscored 55-20, including 30-5 in their last four.
For the sake of argument, let’s assume that the Cats can overtake the struggling Americans and won’t be able to catch Vancouver (11 points ahead) or Kelowna (14 points in front of them).
This leaves PG trying to catch Seattle.
Both teams have 25 games remaining, including four against each other, as they have not met yet this season.
It can be argued that the Cougars have a definite scheduling advantage.
For example, Prince George has zero games left with Portland while Seattle has to play the (33-6-2-3) Winterhawks seven more times.
The Winterhawks, who swept the four-game season series against the Cougars, are ranked #2 among CHL teams in the country.
Time to smile! ?
The @pdxwinterhawks soar up to second in the latest #KiaCHLTop10 Rankings!
DETAILS ? | https://t.co/RjXXlVBZc2 pic.twitter.com/H3k4VQA2RC
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 23, 2020
On the other hand, Prince George has 6 games remaining with the BC Division-leading Kamloops Blazers, including two this weekend at CN Centre, while Seattle is not scheduled to meet the (30-11-2-1) Blazers again.
The Cougars though are 2-1 against the Blazers this season, with the only PG loss 1-0 in Kamloops on Nov. 15th.
We’re back home against @blazerhockey on Friday. Last time they were here….this happened.#NorthernUprising #WHL
— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) January 22, 2020
In total, the (12-24-3-4) Cougars have 14 home games left (including their next six) and 11 on the road.
The (18-22-2-1) Thunderbirds have 13 home games remaining and 12 away.
Besides the 4 against Seattle and 6 vs. Kamloops, the other 15 games for PG includes 4 with Vancouver, 3 with Kelowna, 2 each with Victoria and Tri-City and 1 each with Calgary, Red Deer, Everett, and Lethbridge.
The Cougars entire schedule is right here.
Shifting gears to Seattle’s remaining games, besides the 4 against Prince George and 7 vs. Portland, the other 14 include 4 each with Everett and Vancouver, 2 each with Spokane and Kelowna and 1 each with Tri-City and Moose Jaw.
The Thunderbirds entire schedule is right here.
In the 2017-18 regular season, the (24-38-5-5) Cougars were last in the Western Conference, 20 points behind Seattle for the final wild-card berth.
In the 2018-19 regular season, the (19-41-5-3) Cougars were also last in the Western Conference, a whopping 24 points back of Seattle for the last wild-card spot.
Despite being within striking distance, a realist would suggest it is unlikely that the Cougars will qualify for the post-season, however, at this point they are in a race, which is more than can be said for the two previous years.
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This is season two of Hartley’s Cat Scan, a weekly podcast show that primarily features the Prince George Cougars.
My guest on the 19th Cat Scan in year two is Cariboo Cougars coach and the head of the PG Cougars Alumni Association Tyler Brough.
Tyler talks about his disappointment in losing the Winter Classic outdoor game in Fort. St. James, the Cariboo Cats success at the Mac’s Midget Tournament in Calgary, the competitiveness of the BCMML and the relationship between the Major Midget Cougars and the PG Cougars.
CAT SCAN: @Hartley_Miller chats with @cariboocougars bench boss and former @PGCougars player Tyler Brough on this week’s edition of the Cat Scan podcast
| https://t.co/WEogp7hCzA #CityofPG #sports #NorthernUprising pic.twitter.com/zV9mpx1qH7— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) January 23, 2020
FROM THE QUOTE RACK:
Famed golf course architect Pete Dye has passed away at age 94. He is one person who upon his death could have his name also be the newspaper headline.
*Comedy writer Jim Barach http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.ca/
Sadly architect Pete Dye passed away recently but he left a huge legacy. I thought I’d experience “Star Wars”, golf for myself! @TPCSawgrass pic.twitter.com/DR27Qqe3N0
— Steven Wilde (@StevenWilde1) January 21, 2020
Possible 2020 Slogan for Baltimore Orioles – “We’re been so bad, you KNOW we’re not cheating.”
*Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Jennifer Lopez, 51, is scheduled to do dance numbers at the Super Bowl. Do they include the Charleston?
*Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy and the national championship and now is poised to be drafted No. 1 by the Cincinnati Bengals. You know what they say: Two out of three ain’t bad.
*Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times http://www.seattletimes.com/author/dwight-perry/
Adam Schefter is squashing the Bengals’ Joe Burrow draft drama https://t.co/7QV1Kc6vmP via @nypostsports
I think we can put a bow on this
— DJ (@catsncalsbball) January 24, 2020
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
A Binghamton University study noted budgies in groups are given to contagious yawning. Previously, this had mostly been seen among fans at Knicks games.
*Canadian comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
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Hartley Miller is the news and sports supervisor and morning news anchor for 94.3 the GOAT and Country 97.
He also is the 94.3 radio colour commentator for P.G. Cougars home games.
His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com.
Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]