The Prince George Cougars Alberta road-swing continues tonight from Red Deer, where for the first time this season, the Cougars will face the Red Deer Rebels. Last season the Cougars were 1-1 against Red Deer. Tonight’s game is the second of three games in three nights for the Cougars.

OVERVIEW:

Brent Sutter’s Red Deer Rebels are currently ranked fourth in the WHL’s Eastern Conference. With a record of 25-18-3-2, the Rebels would get home-ice advantage in round one of the playoffs were they to start today. They are 3-5-1-1 in their last 10 overall, and have earned points in three straight games.

WHO’S UP FRONT:

Red Deer captain Turner Elson leads all Rebels forwards with 16 goals and 35 points. He’s a very reliable and steady weapon for the Red Deer Rebels, and cannot be taken lightly if the Cougars hope to win.

WHO’S ON D:

With Matthew Dumba set to start the NHL season with Minnesota, that leaves a gaping hole on the Red Deer blueline. That said, the Rebels have several capable bodies that can more than make up for Dumba’s ice-time. Former Kamloops Blazers defenceman Brady Gaudet has been a nice pickup for Red Deer and has posted 15 points and is a +10 on the year.

WHO’S IN GOAL:

The undisputed number one goaltender in Red Deer is second-year import netminder Patrik Bartosak. Bartosak gives Red Deer a chance to win every night, thanks to his save percentage of .931 and a goals-against-average of 2.37. The Cougars are going to need to challenge Bartosak from all areas of the ice tonight provided he gets the call for Red Deer.

X-FACTOR:

What the Red Deer Rebels grabbed 19-year-old forward Ryse Dieno from the SJHL, they probably didn’t expect him to catch fire the way that he has. In 25 games with Red Deer, Dieno has scored 14 goals and 27 points. Dieno has five points in his past three games, including a hat trick earlier this week against the Edmonton Oil Kings. After spending some time with Kamloops, Medicine Hat and the La Ronge Ice Wolves of the SJHL, Dieno has fit right into Brent Sutter’s club, and will need to be contained tonight.

OVERVIEW:

Dean Clark’s Prince George Cougars head into tonight’s game looking for their first win on the road since November 23^rd in Victoria. The Cougars are currently in the midst of a very difficult stretch of games against the top teams from both the East and West. At 13-25-2-4, the Cougars are just three points shy of eighth place in the Western Conference with a game still in hand on Seattle.

WHO’S UP FRONT:

With a goal in last night’s game, Zach Pochiro continues to impress at both ends of the ice. Pochiro and his linemates Jordan Tkatch and Jarrett Fontaine have been very responsible defensively as of late for the Cougars while also contributing on offense. If the Cougars are going to win tonight they’ll need some secondary scoring, which is something that Pochiro and his linemates have been able to provide as of late.

WHO’S ON D:

Marc McNulty was outstanding for the Cougars last night in a losing cause to Calgary. He scored his seventh goal of the season, and did a great job against some very difficult and shifty Calgary forwards. McNulty and his defense partner  Dallas Ehrhardt will need to have another strong game tonight if the Cougars want to give themselves a chance at victory.

WHO’S IN GOAL:

What an opportunity for 19-year-old Red Deer product, Mac Engel who (quite possibly) gets to play in front of his hometown crowd for just the second time in his WHL career. With Brett Zarowny starting last night in Calgary, it makes sense for Engel to get the nod tonight at home. Last week Engel was brilliant in both of his starts against Portland and Kamloops, and he’ll need to be at his best to help the Cougars to victory tonight.

X-FACTOR:

The Prince George Cougars were able to strike on the power play once in last night’s game, but for a 10^th time this season they also surrendered a short-handed goal against. Special teams will likely be a prominent factor in tonight’s game yet again, and if the Cougars can continue their strong penalty killing while converting on their power play chances,  the Cougars could find themselves just a point out of eighth when all is said and done tonight.