(As of 12:01AM)
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS:
The Prince George Cougars will be without three key players when they host the Victoria Royals tonight in the second half of the doubleheader.
It’s the Cougars final home game in 2017.
Brogan O’Brien (knee injury), Kody McDonald (final game of three game suspension), and Dennis Cholowski (attending Canada’s world junior selection camp in St. Catharines, Ontario) are unavailable to suit up.
The Royals won 5-4 in overtime Sunday by erasing a 3-0 deficit after two periods.
O’Brien was injured after he took a knee-on-knee hit from Victoria’s Kade Jensen, who was given a major penalty and a game misconduct.
Prince George is 2-1-1 on a five-game home-stand.
The 11-14-3-2 Cougars are two points behind the 4th place Kamloops Blazers in the BC Division and three back of the Seattle Thunderbirds in the chase for the final wild card playoff spot.
The 20-10-3 Royals lead the BC Division by four points over Kelowna, although the Rockets have three games in hand.
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE:
BC DIVISION STANDINGS:
Victoria, 33 games = 20-10-3 (43 points)
Kelowna, 30 games = 18-9-2-1 (39 points)
Vancouver, 32 games = 15-13-2-2 (34 points)
Kamloops, 30 games = 14-15-0-1 (29 points)
Prince George, 30 games = 11-14-3-2 (27 points)
WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD:
Tri-City, 28 games = 15-10-3-0 (33 points)
Seattle, 31 games = 13-14-3-1 (30 points)
Kamloops, 30 games = 14-15-0-1 (29 points)
Prince George, 30 games = 11-14-3-2 (27 points)
PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS:
After going 7-1 on an eight game home-stand, the Prince George Spruce Kings play three games on the road this weekend in their final action prior to the Christmas break.
The 18-10-2-3 Spruce Kings, riding a six game win streak, visit (6-23-1-2) Coquitlam Friday, (16-14-3-1) Victoria Saturday, and (5-22-3-2) Cowichan Sunday.
Prince George is second in the Mainland Division, a point behind the Langley Rivermen and PG has two games in hand.
BCHL:
MAINLAND DIVISION STANDINGS:
Langley, 35 games = 16-9-9-1 (42 points)
Prince George, 33 games = 18-10-2-3 (41 points)
Surrey, 34 games = 17-13-3-1 (38 points)
Chilliwack, 34 games = 16-14-2-2 (36 points)
Coquitlam, 32 games = 6-23-1-2 (15 points)
CARIBOO COUGARS:
The 17-4-1 Cariboo Cougars visit the 8-12-2 North Island Silvertips Saturday (4:45pm) and Sunday (8am) in Nanaimo.
The Major Midget Cougars are in second place, just two points behind the 18-3-1 Valley West Hawks.
North Island is holding down the eighth and final playoff spot in the BCMML.
NHL:
Winnipeg Jets 5 Vancouver Canucks 1
The Jets have won seven straight home games and are 10-0-1 in their last 11 at Bell MTS Place.
The 14-13-4 Canucks have lost three straight in regulation for the first time this season.
Vancouver will host 18-7-4 Nashville Wednesday.
The Canucks have lost forward Sven Baertschi for the next four-to-six weeks with a broken jaw.
The Jets are without ex-PG Cougars defenceman Dustin Byfuglien on a week-to-week basis due to a lower-body injury.
New York Islanders 3 Washington Capitals 1
Dallas Stars 2 New York Rangers 1 (SO)
Colorado Avalanche 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 1
Florida Panthers 2 Detroit Red Wings 1
Anaheim Ducks 3 Carolina Hurricanes 2
NFL:
Miami Dolphins 27 New England Patriots 20
The loss ended the Patriots eight-game win streak.
New England is 10-3, while Miami is 6-7.
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The 11-2 Philadelphia Eagles have confirmed they have lost quarterback Carson Wentz for the season with a torn ACL.
JUDO:
The Prince George and Hart Judo Academy racked up a total of 23 medals, including five gold at the Canada West judo tournament in Burnaby.
Tami Goto and Sydney Edgson of the PG Club each won a pair of gold, while Asher Young of the Hart Judo Academy also won her weight class.
UNBC Timberwolves:
Lydia Lavigne of Vernon will join the UNBC women’s soccer team for the 2018 season.
The six-foot-one defender was named the Female Player of the Year for the Whitecaps/NOYSA Okanagan Soccer Academy this year.
The 17-year-old will study Psychology at UNBC.
NBA:
Los Angeles Clippers 96 Toronto Raptors 91
The loss ended a six-game win streak for the 17-8 Raptors, who play Wednesday in Phoenix.