By CKPG Today

Cougars play spoiler in overtime win versus Blazers

Mar 16, 2019 | 8:20 AM

The Prince George Cougars are relishing their role of spoiler as they defeated the Kamloops Blazers 5-4 in overtime last night. The Blazers now sit tied with the Kelowna Rockets for the final playoff spot with just one game to go.

The Cougars opened the scoring less than five minutes into the first with Rhett Rhinehart scoring his fifth of the year from Vladislav Mikhalchuk and Jackson Leppard. The Blazers would tie it up later in the first on a goal from Kobe Mohr.

That would be all the scoring in the first with Kamloops holding a slight 9-7 edge in shots. There would only be one goal scored in the second, that being by Ryley Appelt for the Blazers. The Cougars would head into the third down 2-1 after outshooting Kamloops in the second 13-10.

It was goals aplenty in the third period with the Cougars scoring three times in the first 10 minutes of the third. Vladislav Mikhalchuk scored his 23rd of the year, Josh Curtis got his 13th and Mike MacLean got his fifth for the Cougars.

The Blazers would not go away easily with a playoff spot on the line as Kyrell Sopotyk got the Blazers within one on the power play before Connor Zary tied the game up with a minute to go.

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In overtime, there were not many shots but only one was needed for the game winner by Vladislav Mikhalchuk three minutes into the extra frame. Mikhalchuk led the way offensively for the Cougars with two goals and two assists. Connor Zary had a goal and an assist for the Blazers.

Taylor Gauthier stopped 26 of 30 shots he faced for the win while Dylan Garand stopped 24 of 29 in the loss.

The two teams will now face off tonight at the CN Centre in the final regular season game with the Blazers still fighting for that final playoff spot. It’s fan appreciation night at the CN Centre with puck drop at 7 p.m.