There was nothing pretty about it, but the Prince George Cougars were able to extend their road-winning streak to three with a 5-4 victory over the Kootenay Ice on Wednesday night from Cranbrook. Jari Erricson broke a 4-4 tie at 10:39 of the third period, and Brett Zarowny stopped 35 of 39 shots for his fourth victory of the season.

Prince George grabbed a 1-0 lead just 1:10 into the first when Dallas Ehrhardt snuck in from the point and beat Mackenzie Skapski up high for his first of the 2012-2013 season. Just over five minutes later, the Cougars struck again when Colin Jacobs got past the defense and beat Skapski for his seventh of the season. Jacobs’ goal gave him 13 points on the season, and helped extend his consecutive points streak to seven games.

Kootenay would inch a little closer on a late power play when Kyle O’Connor buried a rebound from Luke Philp for his first ever WHL goal.

After 20 minutes it was 2-1 for the Cougars who were outshot 11-7.

The second period was largely dictated by Kootenay who had tons of early pressure. Momentum stopped though when Caleb Belter pounced on a Kootenay turnover and beat Mackenzie Skapski for his third of the season to give the Cougars another two-goal lead.

Just over two minutes later Kootenay made it 3-2 when Eric Benoit received a pass off a faceoff, and chipped one past Brett Zarowny. Joey Leach then tied the game at two off a pass from Matthew Thomas, and all of a sudden the Cougars were really on their heals.

Late in the second, the Cougars were able to find some more life when Brett Roulston jumped on a loose puck in the slot, and shoveled one past Mackenzie Skapski for his first ever WHL goal, and the Cougars took a 4-3 lead into the second intermission, despite being outshot 28-11. Kootenay made a goaltending change after 40 minutes and replaced Mackenzie Skapski with Wyatt Hoflin.

Early in the third period, the Kootenay Ice once again forced a tie when Joey Leach snuck one past Brett Zarowny, who seconds earlier had left his goal crease to try and cut down an angle from a Kootenay shooter. Zarowny was unable to get back on time, and the Ice were tied with the Cougars.

The game’s final goal came at 10:39 of the third period when Jari Erricson hopped on a loose puck in the Kootenay slot, and beat Wyatt Hoflin through the five-hole to notch his first goal of 2012-2013.

The dramatics were far from over. At 11:38 of the third, Zach Pochiro was kicked out of the game for a checking from behind penalty, and the Kootenay Ice were given a five-minute major power play. Despite lots of offensive possession, the Ice were unable to solve Zarowny and the Cougars killed off the major.

Then in the final moments, the Cougars took a too-many-men penalty, which put them down a man for the final 64 seconds of regulation.

The Cougars were able to hang on to earn their third straight road victory of the season. Tonights win marks the sixth time in seven games that the Cougars have at least earned a single point.

Prince George finished zero-for-four on the power play but killed off three of the four penalties that they took. The final shot total was 39-17 favoring Kootenay.

The win gives Prince George a 5-1-1-0 record as they now set their sights on the Lethbridge Hurricanes and a Friday night showdown in Southern Alberta.