Same score, same result.
For the second time in as many nights, the Prince George Cougars squandered a chance to get back into the Western Conference playoff race, dropping a 5-4 decision on Wednesday to the Kelowna Rockets in front of 1,763 fans at CN Centre.
Former Seattle Thunderbird Matthew Wedman proved to be the difference-maker for the Memorial Cup hosts as he scored twice in a span of three minutes.
The 20-year-old forward from Edmonton has found some chemistry with his old Seattle teammate Dillion Hamaliuk where both players feasted on the Cougars potting a combined three goals and two assists.
“We’re just starting to build chemistry. I and Hamaliuk sparked something here and we brought that over from Seattle so that’s been good,” said Wedman.
.@m_weds of @Kelowna_Rockets scores twice in 5-4 victory over @PGCougars in @TheWHL actions, chats post game with @mypgnow #CityofPG #sports #NorthernUprising pic.twitter.com/FXPILLcC1T
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) February 27, 2020
Since arriving from the Emerald City, Wedman has been a point-per-game producer notching 30 points in as many games.
Kelowna acquired Wedman on December 5th, where they gave up three draft picks including a first-rounder in 2023, second-rounder in 2022 along with a fifth-round selection this year.
Rockets Interim Head Coach Kris Mallette expects the Florida Panthers prospect to be a finisher.
“We brought him in for a reason. He and Dillion have won (with Seattle), we are running him hot right now as we are playing with a lot of confidence, they are both carrying our team right now, which is great and the rest are following their example.”
.@Kelowna_Rockets Head Coach @krismallette chats with @mypgnow after 5-4 victory against @PGCougars in @TheWHL action #CityofPG #sports #NorthernUprising pic.twitter.com/yH5xubcBGw
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) February 27, 2020
Tyson Feist opened the scoring for the Rockets 2:22 into the first period where his lazy point shot went through the legs of Taylor Gauthier.
Vladislav Mikhalchuk responded for PG as he lit the lamp against Kelowna netminder Cole Schwebius.
Both teams then traded goals later in the period courtesy of Hamaliuk (Kelowna) and Connor Bowie (Cougars).
The Cougars took the lead in the middle frame as Cole Moberg cashed in on the power-play.
Before Wedman’s third period heroics, Kyle Topping deflected a shot past an unsuspecting Gauthier to tie the game at 3-3 before Moberg scored his second of the night from Jack Sander.
FINAL: @Kelowna_Rockets (5) at @PGCougars (4)
STATS ? | https://t.co/2pGBGhOKkG#PGvsKEL pic.twitter.com/8ILaUKgpwg
— The WHL (@TheWHL) February 27, 2020
Prince George comes out of the two-game mini-series with one out of a possible four points, an outcome that didn’t sit well with blueliners Ryan Schoettler and Majid Kaddoura.
“It’s a tough feeling tonight, especially when you have the lead, we were playing good in the second and third period and it kind of just slipped away on us. We had too many turnovers, it cost us in the first period and we have to play the clock better,” said Schoettler.
“We played about 55 minutes tonight, the last five minutes I think we were on our heels, we didn’t get pucks out and they ended up in the back of our net. Both teams are really desperate for some wins, they are trying to hold down a playoff spot while we are trying to get one so I think that is the main reason for some of the wide-open play,” added Kaddoura.
.@KaddouraMajid of @PGCougars speaks post game with @mypgnow after 5-4 loss to @Kelowna_Rockets in @TheWHL action #CityofPG #sports #NorthernUprising pic.twitter.com/yNkdUzaS3L
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) February 27, 2020
Kelowna improves to 27-26-2-3 on the season while the Cougars drop to 17-32-4-4, 11 points back of the Seattle Thunderbirds for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
The Rockets outshot the Cougars 39-28.
Despite the mid-week sweep, Mallette gave PG full marks on their effort.
“We knew that the Cougars were going to come out hungry and they didn’t disappoint. I thought our first period was good, I thought we had a lull in the second and we’re fortunate in the third to come out flying and get some good bounces.”
PG is back on home ice Friday night against the BC Division-leading Kamloops Blazers (35-16-3-1)
Puck drop is 7:00 pm from CN Centre.
.@ryan_schoettler of @PGCougars talks with h @mypgnow after 5-4 loss to @Kelowna_Rockets from @CNCentre in @TheWHL action #cityofpg #sports #NorthernUprising pic.twitter.com/eaErXaqLRU
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) February 27, 2020
BDN 9 SC 1
KEL 5 PG 4
EVT 8 TC 1— The WHL (@TheWHL) February 27, 2020
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