The Prince George Cougars are back at .500 after a dramatic 3-2 victory Saturday over the Brandon Wheat Kings. Zach Pochiro and Caleb Belter scored shootout goals for the Cougars while Mac Engel made some huge stops late in the shootout to help secure the victory for the home team.

The first period belonged to the Prince George Cougars who had a huge territorial advantage, and outshot the Wheat Kings 15-3. Unfortunately for the Cougars they were unable to beat goaltender Curtis Honey, who came up huge on numerous occasions during the game.

More of the same in the second period, as the Cougars outshot Brandon 22-11, but still had their troubles scoring. Colin Jacobs was given a penalty shot in the middle of the period, but was turned aside by Honey.

Marc McNulty finally solved the Brandon netminder with a power play marker at 14:55 of the second period. McNulty fired a shot past Honey from the right point to secure his second goal in as many games. Colin Jacobs and Zach Pochiro grabbed assists.

Early in the third, the Cougars increased their lead when Brett Roulston tapped home a pass from Colin Jacobs for his third of the season. It also marks the second  game in a row that Roulston has scored the goal. Colin Jacobs finished the game with two assists.

As the third period wound down, the Wheat Kings got on the board. Chad Robinson was able to beat Mac Engel in a power play at 13:13 to give the visitors some life. Then, in the late stages of the final period, Brandon tied it when Colton Waltz beat Mac Engel on a shot that deflected off of the Cougars defender and through the legs of Engel.

 The Cougars took a delay of game penalty in the final minute, and had to kill 20 seconds of power play time to end regulation.

Neither team was able to score in overtime, but  both teams had great chances. Brandon had a minute and 40 seconds of power play time, but were unable to beat Engel, and then Jordan Tkatch came close on a short-handed breakaway, but in the end 65 minutes solved nothing, and a shootout was needed.

After Colin Jacobs missed his chance, Jayce Hawryluk converted on his opportunity to give Brandon a 1-0 lead in the shootout.

Troy Bourke and Alessio Bertaggia both missed their chances, which meant that Caleb Belter had to score to keep the game alive for the Cougars. Belter delivered a beautiful back-hand goal to make it 1-1.

 That meant that Mac Engel had to stop Ryan Pulock, and he did so with a poke-check.

Jordan Tkatch and Nick Buonassisi were unable to score in round four, which set the stage for Zach Pochiro in round five. Pochiro beat Curtis Honey with a back-hand shot as well to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead in the shootout.

Mac Engel made one final glorious save off of Eric Roy to seal the deal and give the Cougars their seventh victory of the season. Tonight’s win marks the first for Mac Engel in a Cougars uniform.

 Prince George finished the game one-for-three on the power play while Brandon went 1-4. The final shots on goal were 49-28 for the Cougars, who will now set their sights on the league leading Kamloops Blazers, next Friday night in Kamloops.