The schedule for the Prince George Cougars has always been a bit wonky.
That may be an understand this particular weekend as their next brief stint away from the CN Centre has them in Kamloops tonight (Feb. 22) against the Blazers, followed by a long drive south of the border to Everett the very next day.
On top of the long road ahead, the Cats are looking for some type of spark on offense that could snap their current losing streak of 17 games.
This is the longest active skid in the history of the franchise since moving to Prince George; the longest was 12 games in the 2014-15 season around the same time of year.
Perhaps a couple days of bonding, sleeping in hotel rooms, and a little motivation in another team’s barn could do the trick?
Regardless, the Cougars will have to collectively communicate on the ice, not constantly rely on their goaltending, and find ways of getting off the boards and shooting pucks in front of the net, a trend they appear to have been consistent with as of lately.
BREATHING FIRE
Prince George is hoping a little bit of vengeance can help take down the Kamloops Blazers this evening at the Sandman Centre.
The match-up history coming into the contest does show its colours however, as the Cougars have lost all six prior meetings in the nine-game season-series, which includes one overtime loss.
March 16, 2018 was the last time Prince George won in Kamloops by a score of 4-2.
They sit three points out of a playoff spot behind the Seattle Thunderbirds with a record of 22-28-4-1.
The Blazers are coming off of a home-and-home split against the Tri-City Americans, winning on Family Day at home against the third0best team in the U.S. Division.
Puck-drop goes for 7 p.m.
KAMLOOPS TOP FIVE
- Zane Franklin = 56 points (25 goals, 31 assists)
- Connor Zary = 52 points (18 goals, 34 points)
- Orrin Centazzo = 42 points (13 goals, 29 assists)
- Jermaine Loewen = 33 points (21 goals, 12 assists)
- Martin Lang = 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists)
📺 @Fraser_PG tees up tonight's contest against @blazerhockey. | #NorthernUprising #WHL pic.twitter.com/Nfq0n6VZak
— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) February 22, 2019
THE TIPPING POINT
This will be the third time in six days Prince George will be facing the Everett Silvertips.
The Cats were swept on Monday (Feb. 18) and Tuesday (Feb. 19) at the CN Centre and outscored by a combined 8-2.
The ‘Tips are at the top of the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Western Conference and the first team on this side of the league to reach 40 wins; their record stands at 41-14-1-2.
The Cougars have seen this opponent and even showed promised by scoring the first goal in Tuesday’s tilt, but Everett took over later on and went out of B.C.’s northern capital with a bang.
It could be an even tougher mountain to climb for Prince George at the Angels of the Wind Arena; the Silvertips have a home record of 20-7-1-1.
This match-up goes for Saturday (Feb. 24) at 7:05 p.m.
EVERETT TOP FIVE
- Connor Dewar = 73 points (34 goals, 39 assists)
- Bryce Kindopp = 63 points (34 goals, 29 assists)
- Zack Andrusiak = 60 points (36 goals, 24 assists)
- Jake Christiansen = 42 points (12 goals, 30 assists)
- Riley Sutter = 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists)
