PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS:
Seattle Thunderbirds 7 Prince George Cougars 4
T-Birds swept the doubleheader at the CN Centre and the four game season series (Seattle took Tuesday’s game 5-2).
The Thunderbirds erased a 3-2 deficit after the opening period by scoring twice in the second and three more in the third.
Taylor Gauthier made 37 saves while Dorin Luding blocked 18 as Seattle outshot Prince George 44-22 before 2,454 fans.
The Thunderbirds, who are 16-6 in their last 22 regular season games in Prince George, got goals from seven different players.
Aaron Boyd, Max Kryski, Josh Maser, and Jack Sander tallied for the 17-22-4-3 Cougars, who have slipped eight points behind Spokane for the final wild-card playoff spot.
The Cougars host the Lethbridge Hurricanes Friday and Saturday.
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE:
Kelowna 4 Lethbridge 3 (OT)
Victoria 4 Portland 2
Spokane 3 Brandon 0
Swift Current 3 Tri-City 2 (OT)
BC DIVISION STANDINGS:
Kelowna, 44 games = 28-13-2-1 (59 points)
Vancouver, 45 games = 25-14-4-2 (56 points)
Victoria, 46 games = 26-16-3-1 (56 points)
Prince George, 46 games = 17-22-4-3 (41 points)
Kamloops, 44 games = 18-23-1-2 (39 points)
WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD:
Seattle, 44 games = 22-16-4-2 (50 points)
Spokane, 45 games = 23-19-1-2 (49 points)
Prince George, 46 games = 17-22-4-3 (41 points)
Kamloops, 44 games = 18-23-1-2 (39 points)
PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS:
The Prince George Spruce Kings have three home games in four days beginning tonight when they entertain the 26-9-2-3 Penticton Vees.
They also entertain the 29-10-1-4 Vernon Vipers Friday and the 21-13-4-4 Powell River Kings on Sunday.
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 Langley and two in hand over Surrey.
BCHL:
MAINLAND DIVISION STANDINGS:
Prince George, 42 games = 21-13-4-4 (50 points)
Langley, 43 games = 19-12-10-2 (50 points)
Surrey, 44 games = 22-16-4-2 (50 points)
Chilliwack, 42 games = 20-17-2-3 (45 points)
Coquitlam, 42 games = 11-27-1-3 (26 points)
CARIBOO COUGARS:
The Cariboo Cougars have home games in Fort St. James this weekend.
The Major Midget Cougars face off against the 10-11-1-3 Vancouver NE Chiefs Saturday at 5PM and Sunday at 10AM.
The 19-5-2 Cougars are in second place with 14 regular season games remaining, four points behind the 21-3-2 Valley West Hawks and two ahead of the 18-6-1-1 Fraser Valley Thunderbirds.
NHL:
Boston 4 Montreal 1
Anaheim 5 Pittsburgh 3
The 18-21-6 Vancouver Canucks visit the Edmonton Oilers Saturday and the Winnipeg Jets Sunday.
The Canucks are 11 points out of a playoff spot.
UNBC TIMBERWOLVES:
The UNBC Timberwolves tip off against the Victoria Vikes Friday and Saturday in Canada West basketball on Vancouver Island.
UNBC wraps up the regular season January 26th and 27th at home against Fraser Valley.
The Lady Timberwolves are 8-8 and in ninth place out of 17 teams.
The UNBC men are 11th with a 7-9 record.
The top 12 qualify for the playoffs.
NBA:
Toronto 96 Detroit 91
The 30-13 Raptors are second in the Eastern Conference, three games behind Boston and four ahead of Cleveland.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN:
Canadian Eugenie Bouchard is out at the Australian Open.
Bouchard lost her second round match to top seeded Simona Halep 6-2, 6-2.
NFL:
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is dealing with a right hand injury that has limited him in practice, according to the team’s participation report.
Brady has been on and off the injury report at times this season for an Achilles and his left shoulder.
This is the first time he has been on the injury report for his throwing hand.