The two lowest scoring teams in the Western Conference combined for 13 goals in the Prince George Cougars 7-6 victory over the Kamloops Blazers in a shootout.
The Cougars started a four-game road trip by ending a four-game overall losing streak, and a four-game losing streak against Kamloops, in a loosely played contest where neither team led by more than one goal.
“It wasn’t pretty through the whole game. That was two young hockey teams, a lot of mistakes, a lot of just little details that weren’t there from either hockey club, but we found a way to hang in there,” said Cougars associate coach Steve O’Rourke on the 94.3 the Goat post-game show.
“We’ll take our two points and get on the road here. It wasn’t a masterpiece by any means.”
The Blazers led 3-2 after one and the Cats were ahead 6-5 after two.
Vladislav Mikhalchuk scored twice for Prince George and added another goal in the shootout.
Ethan Browne notched the shootout winner as the PG won the shootout 2-1.
Josh Maser bagged a couple of goals, including his team leading 25th for the Cougars, who won for just the third time in their last 14 games.
Jared Bethune (1 +1) and Josh Curtis (1 +1) also tallied for Prince George, who surrendered the first goal for the 10th straight game.
Each team scored twice on the power play.
Tavin Grant made 39 saves as Kamloops outshot PG 45-31.
The Cougars are 3-5 against the Blazers with two more games to go, a home and home on the final weekend of the regular season March 16th and 17th.
The (20-30-4-4) Cougars play Tuesday in Kelowna, Friday in Spokane and Saturday in Tri-City before hosting Kelowna on February 27th and 28th.
BC DIVISION STANDINGS:
Kelowna, 59 games = 35-18-4-2 (76 points)
Victoria, 61 games = 35-21-3-2 (75 points)
Vancouver, 58 games = 31-19-5-3 (70 points)
Kamloops, 59 games = 26-28-1-4 (57 points)
Prince George, 58 games = 20-30-4-4 (48 points)
WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD:
Tri-City, 58 games = 29-21-7-1 (66 points)
Seattle, 57 games = 28-20-7-2 (65 points)
Kamloops, 59 games = 26-28-1-4 (57 points)
Prince George, 58 games = 20-30-4-4 (48 points)