Prince George Cougars looking for strong start to 2019 after dismal 2018

Is a fresh start to a new year just what the doctor ordered for the Prince George Cougars? We'll have to wait and see.

Prince George is in Kelowna tonight (Jan. 4) to take on the Rockets at Prospera Place. 

The Cougars had a dismal 2018, finishing with a 12-21-1-2 record to date and 2-8-0-0 in their last 10 games. They also enter the evening on a two-game skid, hoping to turn it around in the early days of 2019. 

Prince George managed to snag a win against Seattle on Dec. 28, beating the Thunderbirds 2-1 on the road. The next two games, the losses came back by being shutout 3-0 by the Everett Silvertips on Dec. 29 and being shutout again on Dec. 30, this time to the Kamloops Blazers (1-0). 

The Cougars aren't looking favourable heading into tonight's contest, with a road record of 5-12-1-1. Prince George also holds a poor power play on the road, only converting 11/84 (13.1 per cent). 

With their record currently, Prince George sits last in the B.C. Division, ninth in the Western Conference and 18th overall in WHL standings.

Kelowna comes into tonight sitting at .500 with a 17-17-3-0 record and is 6-2-2-0 in its last 10. Their most recent win came against the Kamloops Blazers on Dec. 29 with a 2-1 win. 

The Rockets sit 12th overall in WHL standings, third in B.C. Division standings and sixth in the Western Conference. 

There is a favourable statistic coming into the game tonight for the Cougars: they lead the 2018-19 regular season series with a record of 3-1-1-0.

Morning skate underway in Kelowna. Cougars open road trip against the @Kelowna_Rockets coming up at 7:05 pm. Taylor Gauthier will get the start. #NorthernUprising #WHL pic.twitter.com/NtepDoqk2C

— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) January 4, 2019

Here are the leading scorers for both teams: 

Prince George Cougars

• Vladislav Mikhalchuk (13-15-28)
• Josh Maser (12-9-21)
• Cole Moberg (7-14-21)
• Ryan Schoettler (4-14-18)
• Ethan Browne (5-12-17)

Kelowna Rockets

• Kyle Topping (14-25-39)
• Leif Mattson (16-19-35)
• Nolan Foote (19-14-33)
• Liam Kindree (7-19-26)
• Lassi Thomson (7-16-23)

Tonight's puck drop is at 7:05 p.m.