(Image Credit: Prince George Cougars)
Warriors 3 Cougars 2 OT

Cougars can’t hang on in dying seconds, fall to Warriors 3-2 in overtime

Nov 5, 2026 | 6:32 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — The Prince George Cougars were two seconds away from victory but couldn’t hold on in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Moose Jaw Warriors Wednesday (Nov. 4) from CN Centre. 

The Cougars opened the scoring nearly halfway through the first period when Jett Lajoie pounced on a loose puck in front of the crease. Prince George expanded their lead to 2-0 early in the second when Dmitri Yakutsenak cleaned up a rebound after Riley Ashe was stopped on a breakaway. 

The Warriors responded halfway through the second and pushed for the tying goal. Moose Jaw outshot the Cougars 12-7 in the third period. 

Pulling their goaltender with about two-and-a-half minutes remaining in the third, the Warriors scored on a goalmouth scramble with 1.4 seconds left on the score clock to send the game into overtime. 

Mathieu Lajoie, who scored the game-tying goal, also added the overtime winner for the Warriors on a give-and-go play. 

Following the loss, Cougars head coach and general manager Mark Lamb expressed his frustration after his team had another chance to secure a win late. 

“Very disappointing,” Lamb states. “It’s been happening to us, and we just got to keep fighting through it. It’s games when we have leads and closing out games, and that’s where we’re having problems.” 

The Cougars fall to 4-7-1-2 on the 2026-27 Western Hockey League (WHL) season, good for 11 points in 14 games. They’re tied with the Seattle Thunderbirds at the bottom of the WHL Western Conference Standings. 

The Cougars host the Kelowna Rockets Friday (Nov. 6) at 7:00 p.m. from CN Centre. 

Scoring Summary 

First Period 

1-0, Cougars, Jett Lajoie (5) from Kash Andresen and Kayden Lemire, 8:33 

Second Period 

2-0, Cougars, Dmitri Yakutsenak (2) from Riley Ashe, 2:12 

2-1, Warriors, Connor Schmidt (1) from Nolan Paquette and Noah Degenstein, 11:39 

Third Period 

2-2, Warriors, Mathieu Lajoie (4) from Jan Trefny and Carson Deichert, 19:58 

Overtime 

3-2, Warriors, Mathieu Lajoie 2 (5) from Griffin Darby, 0:55 

Goaltending 

Jordan Switzer (W), Warriors, 29 saves on 31 shots in 58 minutes played. 

Peyton Shore (OTL), Cougars, 29 saves on 32 shots in 61 minutes played.