Third period comeback leads to Giant size win for Cougars

Forget about just making the playoffs, the Prince George Cougars still have a realistic shot at third in the B.C. Division and sixth in the WHL Western Conference.

The Cougars erased a 3-2 deficit after two periods by scoring three straight goals in a 10-minute span in the third and then held on for a 5-4 (Sunday) victory over the Vancouver Giants before 3,008 fans in Langley.

Heading into the game, the Cougars were 0-31-2-1 when trailing after 40 minutes.

Ethan Samson scored on a power-play and 4 1/2 minutes later set up the game-winner by Caden Brown.

It was Brown’s first goal since Feb. 12th.

Hudson Thornton also had a goal and an assist, while Koehn Ziemmer, with his team-high 29th goal, and Connor Bowie also found the back of the net for the Cats, who were outshot 34-28.

Ty Young made 30 saves to get the victory in the net.

Payton Mount had a hat-trick for the Giants, who suffered their third loss in as many days.

Prince George went 1-3 on the power play but also gave up a shorthanded goal. The penalty kill was 2-2.

It was the second win in three-weekend road games for the Cougars.

On Friday, they lost 4-2 to the Victoria Royals but on Saturday, P.G. blanked Victoria 3-0.

The (22-35-2-1) Cougars are holding down the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, four points ahead of the (19-37-4-1) Spokane Chiefs and just three points behind the (22-35-5-1) Royals and the (23-33-4-0) Giants.

Prince George and Vancouver have eight games remaining, Spokane has seven left and Victoria has five left.

The WHL standings are right here.

The Cougars visit Kamloops on Wednesday and Kelowna on Friday before having four straight games at CN Centre.

Prince George has four games remaining against Kelowna, three left vs. Kamloops, and one against Victoria.