The Prince George Cougars earned three of a possible four points against the Kamloops Blazers this weekend. Saturday night, the Blazers earned a 2-1 victory in overtime, with Sam Grist netting the winner at 3:01 of the extra-frame. The Cougars trailed 1-0 heading into the third, but were able to tie it on an early power play marker.

Kamloops opened the game’s scoring at the 4:00 mark of the first when Dylan Willick blasted his eighth past Mac Engel off a three-on-two rush. Brendan Ranford and Kale Kessy assisted on the goal that put Kamloops ahead.

The Cougars were then given three straight power plays in the first, but were unable to capitalize on their chances.

The second period was scoreless, but both teams had their share of chances. Mac Engel made several key saves for the Cougars while Cole Cheveldave was equal to the task at the other end. The shots in period two were 17-8 for the visitors.

Early in the third, the Cougars were rewarded with a power play opportunity, and this time they wouldn’t disappoint. Troy Bourke and Chase Witala moved the puck well down low, and Bourke then fed a pass across the ice to the waiting Colin Jacobs who notched his 14^th of the season to tie the game.

The Cougars and Blazers continued to trade chances in the third period. Kamloops had two power play chances that they didn’t convert on, and Cole Cheveldave made some enormous saves late in the game to keep the game tied at one.

For the third time this season the Blazers and Cougars needed more than 60 minutes to decide the outcome, and at the 3:01 mark of overtime, Sam Grist ended the game with a shot from the left point that snuck it’s way through traffic and in through Mac Engel for his fourth of the season.

The final shot tally was 34-27 for Kamloops who went zero-for-two on the power play. The Cougars went one-for-five.

Not a bad weekend for the Cougars who were playing in their fourth game in five nights, and inched within three points of eighth place in the West thanks to Seattle’s loss against Victoria.

The Cougars will be back in action on Friday night from Calgary as they begin a three-night Alberta road-swing that will also see them stop in Red Deer and Edmonton.