Cougars step into playoff position with win over Royals

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It wasn’t the start coach Mark Lamb was looking for as just a minute and a half into the opening period, the Royals struck first off the stick of Marcus Almquist after he forced a turnover near his own blueline. The goal was his fifth of the season and was unassisted.

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Past the midway mark of the period, some congested traffic in and around the Victoria crease led to Tyler Palmer getting out of position as Cougars’ captain Jonny Hooker got his stick on the loose puck in the crease and tapped it in for his 16th goal of the season.

The goal tied the game up at 1-1 and would remain tied heading into the first intermission. The Royals led shots in the first period 13-10.

Start of the second period saw the Cougars remain on the penalty kill with Bauer Dumanski remaining in the box for his hook towards the end of the first period. However, the Cougars were able to fend off the Royals to fight off the remaining penalty.

The Cougars found themselves on the power play after a 2-on-1 was stopped after Luke Shipley tripped up Riley Heidt as he came down the slot on a scoring threat. However, the Cougars couldn’t muster up a single shot on net on their first power play of the game.

Prince George didn’t manage to get a shot on net until the final few minutes of the period, managing just five shots against Palmer before the end of the period.

In the third, a groggy start by the Royals nearly cost them as the Cougars orchestrated some early opportunities. However, PG was unable to break the stalemate. That is until they found themselves on a power play in the latter parts of the period.

With Ethan Samson playing the point of the Cougars’ special teams unit, Heidt set the Philadelphia Flyers’ draft pick up for a one-time blast to push the Cougars ahead 2-1. Heidt and Hudson Thornton had the assists on the play.

Prince George held off the Royals push in the final few minutes to hold onto the 2-1 win. The Cougars will now take their regular season on the road for their final two games.

The Cougars will be in Kamloops on Friday with a clash against the BC Division champs in the Blazers, followed up with their season finale in Kelowna on Saturday against the Rockets.