(As of 12:01AM)
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS:
Prince George Cougars 5 Victoria Royals 4
17-year-old rookie Max Kryski snapped a 4-4 tie, for his first WHL goal with 5:36 left in the third period, before 2,432 fans in the Cougars final home game in 2017.
The Cougars led the Royals 3-0 after two periods for the second consecutive game.
Victoria scored its four goals in less than three minutes (a span of 2:42).
Defenceman Ryan Schoettler scored twice for Prince George, with Vladislav Mikalchuk and Cole Moberg also finding the back of the net.
Moberg’s goal gave the Cats a brief 4-1 lead at 4:31 of the third.
PG goalie Tavin Grant was sharp as Victoria out-shot the hosts 45-25, including 19-7 in the final period.
Each team notched a power play goal although the Royals had eight opportunities, twice as many of the Cats.
The Cougars finished 3-1-1 on a five game home-stand after taking three out of a possible four points from the first play Royals.
Victoria won Sunday’s game 5-4 in overtime.
The 12-14-3-2 Cougars play their next eight on the road including three this weekend.
They visit Seattle Friday, Everett Saturday and Vancouver Sunday.
Prince George is tied with Kamloops, a point behind Seattle and five back of Vancouver.
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The Cougars have placed Brogan O’Brien on injured reserve, listed as month-to-month.
Victoria’s Kade Jensen has been slapped with a three game suspension for his knee-on-knee hit on O’Brien in the Sunday game.
O’Brien’s replacement is 20-year-old forward Nic Holowko, who has 53 points (21G, 32A) and 100 penalty minutes in 208 WHL regular season games with Kamloops, Prince Albert and Seattle.
Holowko was in the Cougars line-up on Tuesday against the Royals.
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE:
Brandon 3 Kamloops 2
Moose Jaw 6 Kelowna 3
BC DIVISION STANDINGS:
Victoria, 34 games = 20-11-3 (43 points)
Kelowna, 31 games = 18-10-2-1 (39 points)
Vancouver, 32 games = 15-13-2-2 (34 points)
Kamloops, 31 games = 14-16-0-1 (29 points)
Prince George, 31 games = 12-14-3-2 (29 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, 31 games = 14-16-0-1 (29 points)
Prince George, 31 games = 12-14-3-2 (29 points)
PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS:
The 18-10-2-3 Prince George Spruce Kings visit (6-23-1-2) Coquitlam Friday, (16-14-3-1) Victoria Saturday and (5-22-3-2) Cowichan Sunday.
The Spruce Kings have won six in a row.
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 travel to Nanaimo for BCMML games this weekend.
The Major Midget Cougars visit the 8-12-2 North Island Silvertips Saturday (4:45PM) and Sunday (8AM).
NHL:
Minnesota 2 Calgary 1 (SO)
Edmonton 7 Columbus 2
Philadelphia 4 Toronto 2
Buffalo 3 Ottawa 2
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Brett Connolly of Prince George scored his 6th goal of the season to help the Washington Capitals to a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.
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The 14-13-4 Vancouver Canucks host 18-7-4 Nashville tonight.
The Canucks have lost their last three and sit three points out of a playoff spot.
NFL:
Good news for Green Bay Packers fans as Aaron Rodgers announced on Instagram that he has been medically cleared to play.
Rodgers suffered a broken collar bone nearly two months ago (October 15th) in Minnesota.
The 7-6 Green Bay Packers likely need to win their final three games to make the playoffs.
The Packers visit the 9-4 Carolina Panthers Sunday.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL:
Duchess Park holds its annual Condor Classic senior basketball tournaments.
Play begins Thursday afternoon at 3 and concludes Friday night.
Eight boys and seven girls teams are entered.
NBA:
The 17-8 Toronto Raptors conclude a four game road trip tonight in Phoenix against the 9-20 Suns.
The Raptors are third in the Eastern Conference, one-and-a-half games behind Cleveland and four back of Boston.