The Prince George Cougars are leaving Victoria with one of a possible four points after a 4-3 shootout loss on Saturday. Victoria scored three unanswered goals in the third period to force the tie and scored twice in the shootout to earn the victory. Chase Witala led the Cougars with two goals and an assist, while Mac Engel made 41 saves through 65 minutes.

Chase Witala notched the game’s first goal at 10:11 of the first period. Dan Gibb forced the puck to Troy Bourke who made a great play along the wall to beat his man, and send Chase Witala into the Royals zone down the right wing. Witala fired a shot from above the right circle that beat Patrik Polivka and the Cougars led 1-0.

The Royals had a couple of power plays in the first that they didn’t capitalize on. Mac Engel stopped all 11 shots he faced in the period.

Early in the second, the Cougars the Cougars killed the final 1:33 of a Royals power play that stemmed from the first period. After they killed it off, they took full control with a couple of power play chances of their own.

Already up five-on-four, the Royals had a delayed penalty coming up. Troy Bourke made a great play from behind the net to center the puck out front where Colin Jacobs batted it out of the air and in for his team leading 12^th of the season.

Just over two minutes later, Chase Witala knocked home a Colin Jacobs rebound on the man advantage to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead. Troy Bourke added a second assist on that goal, giving him two official points on the night.

That spelt the end of the night for Royals goalie Patrik Polivka. Coleman Vollrath came into the game at the six minute mark of the second, and did not surrender a goal from there on out.

The Royals were given a few late power play chances, and had a number of great chances. But Mac Engel was spectacular for the Cougars, making two highlight-reel saves off of Austin Carroll and then later on Ben Walker to keep the game at 3-0.

Despite the 3-0 lead, the Cougars were outshot 24-12 through two periods.

The Royals wasted no time getting things started in the third. Just 37 seconds into the final stanza, Steven Hodges won a faceoff in the Cougars zone that went right to Austin Carroll. Carroll ripped a shot from the left circle that beat Mac Engel, and the Royals were officially on the board.

Mid-way through the period, Jamie Crooks made it 3-2 on a Royals power play when he placed a perfect shot over the right shoulder of Mac Engel. It went off the post and in for Crooks’ 17^th of the season.

The comeback would then be completed at 17:21 of the period when a defensive-zone turnover found it’s way to Austin Carroll along the left wing boards. Carroll centered the puck to the waiting Brandon Magee who beat Mac Engel for his 14^th goal of the season.

After a tough third period, the Cougars bounced back in overtime, putting several good chances on the goal. Coleman Vollrath’s best save came early off Troy Bourke who pounced on a Raymond Grewal rebound and nearly sealed the game.

65 minutes would solve nothing, and a shootout was needed. Brandon Magee beat Mac Engel through the five-hole to make it 1-0 Royals. Caleb Belter then lost control of the puck trying to move it to his backhand, which meant an easy stop for Vollrath.

Mac Engel started the second round with a save off of Ben Walker, but Daulton Siwak was unable to beat Vollrath on his opportunity, firing his chance wide to the stick side.

Steven Hodges needed to score to win it for Victoria, and he did just that, beating Mac Engel to the stick side on a forehand deke.

The Cougars record now sits at 12-19-1-4, and their single point has them three points back of Everett for eighth, and 11 points ahead of the Vancouver Giants for fourth in the B.C. Division.

Prince George finished the game two-for-six on the power play and they killed off five of six Victoria power plays.

Chase Witala, Troy Bourke and Colin Jacobs all finished with multi-point games, and Mac Engel made over 40 saves for the first time this season.

Next up, the Vancouver Giants on Sunday afternoon. The Cougars will look for their third straight victory against Vancouver.