Weekend Wrap
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS:
The Prince George Cougars split two games on their U.S. road trip.
They lost 6-2 (Friday) in Spokane and won 5-2 (Saturday) in Tri-City.
The 17-20-4-3 Cougars have moved into fourth place in the BC Division and ninth place in the Western Conference, two points ahead of the Kamloops Blazers and five behind the Seattle Thunderbirds.
The Thunderbirds visit the Cougars Tuesday and Wednesday.
Seattle holds down the final wild card playoff spot, a point behind Spokane.
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Prince George Cougars 5 Tri-City Americans 2 (Saturday)
The Cougars took control of the game in the middle period with three goals to enjoy a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.
Jared Bethune notched an empty net goal and two assists, while Jackson Leppard, Vladislav Mikhalchuk, and first star and ex-Portland Winterhawk, Ilijah Colina, all scored once an added an assist.
Tavin Grant made 26 saves as each team had 28 shots.
The Americans played without six of their top 11 scorers due to injury.
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Spokane Chiefs 6 Prince George Cougars 2 (Friday)
The Chiefs jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the midway point of the first period.
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE:
Everett Silvertips 4 Portland Winterhawks 3 (Sunday SO)
Ex-PG Cougar Dennis Cholowski had an assist for the Winterhawks, who are tied with Everett for top spot in the US Division, but Portland has two games in hand.
BC DIVISION STANDINGS:
Kelowna, 43 games = 27-13-2-1 (57 points)
Vancouver, 45 games = 25-14-4-2 (56 points)
Victoria, 45 games = 25-16-3-1 (54 points)
Prince George, 44 games = 17-20-4-3 (41 points)
Kamloops, 43 games = 18-22-1-2 (39 points)
WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD:
Spokane, 44 games = 22-19-1-2 (47 points)
Seattle, 42 games = 20-16-4-2 (46 points)
Prince George, 44 games = 17-20-4-3 (41 points)
Kamloops, 43 games = 18-22-1-2 (39 points)
CARIBOO COUGARS:
The Cariboo Cougars followed up a 4-3 loss (Saturday) with a 2-2 tie (Sunday) against the first place Valley West Hawks at the BCMML Showcase in Kelowna.
The Hawks are four points ahead of the second place Cougars with each team having 14 regular season games left.
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BC Major Midget League (Showcase in Kelowna)
Valley West Hawks 2 Cariboo Cougars 2 (Sunday) TIE
Valley West Hawks 4 Cariboo Cougars 3 (Saturday)
Cariboo goalie Marcus Allen made 91 saves over the two games.
Valley West outshot the Cats 47-25 and 50-35 for a total of 97-60.
The 19-5-2 Cougars are in second place, four points behind the 21-3-2 Hawks and two ahead of the 18-6-1-1 Fraser Valley Thunderbirds.
Cariboo will play its next two games in Fort St James, Saturday at 5PM and Sunday at 10AM when they host the 10-11-1-3 Vancouver NE Chiefs, who are in seventh place in the 11-team league.
PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS:
The Prince George Spruce Kings, coming off Friday’s 2-1 loss to Cowichan Valley, return to action on Thursday when they host the 26-9-2-3 Penticton Vees, the start of three home games in four days.
The 21-13-4-4 Spruce Kings are in a three way tie for first in the Mainland Division alongside Langley and Surrey, although Prince George has a game in hand on both teams.
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Cowichan Valley Capitals 2 Prince George Spruce Kings 1 (Friday)
Ben Brar scored the only goal for the Spruce Kings, who outshot the Capitals 39-15 before 937 fans at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (RMCA).
BCHL:
MAINLAND DIVISION STANDINGS:
Prince George, 42 games = 21-13-4-4 (50 points)
Langley, 43 games = 19-12-10-2 (50 points)
Surrey, 43 games = 22-15-4-2 (50 points)
Chilliwack, 42 games = 20-17-2-3 (45 points)
Coquitlam, 41 games = 10-27-1-3 (24 points)
NHL:
Vancouver 3 Minnesota 2 (OT)
Back after missing 21 games with a lower body injury, Brandon Sutter scored at 2:50 of overtime for the 18-21-6 Canucks, who are idle until they play Saturday in Edmonton.
The Canucks will also play Sunday in Winnipeg to conclude a string of seven straight games on the road.
Vancouver is second last in the Western Conference, nine points out of a playoff spot.
Calgary 4 Carolina 1
Seventh straight victory for the Flames, who have moved into 2nd in the Pacific Division, a point ahead of LA.
Pittsburgh 5 NY Rangers 2
Detroit 4 Chicago 0
UNBC TIMBERWOLVES:
The UNBC Timberwolves women’s basketball team is .500 at 8-8 in Canada West action following a pair of wins in Brandon.
The UNBC men’s basketball team sits 7-9 after a split with Brandon.
The Timberwolves have four regular season games left: Friday and Saturday at Victoria and January 26th and 27th at home against Fraser Valley.
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Canada West Women’s Basketball
UNBC Timberwolves 76 Brandon Bobcats 71 Saturday
UNBC Timberwolves 66 Brandon Bobcats 65 Friday
Canada West Men’s Basketball
Brandon Bobcats 89 UNBC Timberwolves 76 Saturday
UNBC Timberwolves 85 Brandon Bobcats 79 Friday
NFL:
SUNDAY:
Minnesota Vikings 29 New Orleans Saints 24
Case Keenum connected with Stefon Diggs on the final play for a 61-yard touchdown to give the Vikings the victory and a date Sunday in Philadelphia against the Eagles in the NFC Championship game.
Jacksonville Jaguars 45 Pittsburgh Steelers 42
The Jags advance to the AFC Championship game Sunday afternoon in New England.
SATURDAY:
New England Patriots 35 Tennessee Titans 14
The Patriots advance to the AFC championship game for the seventh straight year.
Philadelphia Eagles 15 Atlanta Falcons 10
NBA: (UPDATE at 12:30PM)
The Toronto Raptors lost today (Monday) 117-11 to the Philadelphia 76’ers.
The 29-13 Raptors are 2nd in the Eastern Conference while the 76ers are 20-20.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN:
18-year-old Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont. whipped his opponent from Greece, Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the second round of the Australian Open.
Meanwhile, Vancouver’s Vasek Pospisil is out, losing in the first round to sixth-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6.