48 hours removed from easily the wildest game of the season to date, the Prince George Cougars are back on home soil for their first and only meeting of the season against Hunter Shinkaruk and the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Cougars have struggled mightily against the Tigers in recent seasons, having only defeated them once in their previous 10 tries. But the Cougars are coming off an eight goal game against Kamloops, and hopefully that offensive success can carry over into tonight.

OVERVIEW:

Shaun Clouston’s Medicine Hat Tigers come into tonight’s game with the top record in the Eastern Conference. at 13-3-3-0 the Tigers have the same point total as the Swift Current Broncos, but have played in four fewer games. They are a team that has a ton of depth up front, and they take care of their own end extremely well also having surrendered the second fewest goals against in the Eastern Conference. They are 6-0-1-0 in their past seven games.

WHO’S UP FRONT:

In previous seasons, the Tigers offense has centered largely around Vancouver Canucks prospect Hunter Shinkaruk. This season, Shinkaruk has been his usual reliable self, but opposing teams have much more to worry about than just Shinkaruk and his linemates. The Tigers have a number of capable offensive options including 18-year-old Cole Sanford who leads the team with 12 goals after only scoring three last season in 53 games.

WHO’S ON D:

With 17 points in 17 games, St. Louis Blues prospect Tommy Vannelli is off to a terrific start in his WHL career. Vannelli is joined by a reliable stable of defencemen that include: 20-year-old Dylan Bredo and Washington Capitals prospect Tyler Lewington. There is a reason why the Tigers have the second fewest goals against in the East, and it’s largely because of the steady two-way play of their defencemen.

WHO’S IN GOAL:

When it comes to the Medicine Hat Tigers goaltenders, pick you poison. Would you prefer 19-year-old Phoenix Coyotes import Marek Langhammer who has a 6-2-2-0 record with a .915 save percentage and a 2.57 goals-against-average? Or would you rather face Daniel Wapple with his 7-1-1-0 record, .913 save percentage and 2.85 goals-against-average?

X-FACTOR:

11 points in nine games doesn’t appear to be overly flashly for 19-year-old forward Hunter Shinkaruk, but do not let those statistics fool you. The first rounder from the Vancouver Canucks is one of the best pure offensive talents in the entire WHL. His speed and shot are among the best in the league, and he’s not shy about playing physically either. Shinkaruk had two goals and one assist in two games against the Cougars last season.

OVERVIEW:

Mark Holick’s Prince George Cougars are coming off an 8-7 overtime victory over the Kamloops Blazers. With a record of 8-11-1-3, the Cougars currently sit eighth in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the idle Vancouver Giants. The Cougars are no doubt pleased with the eight goals for in Sunday’s game, but the goals-against as of late has been a concern. So far this season the Cougars are 1-0-0-1 against teams in the Central Division.

WHO’S UP FRONT:

After going two games without a point, 20-year-old forward Todd Fiddler exploded offensively for the Cougars on Sunday in Kamloops. The new Cougar had three goals and five points, leading the charge in the 8-7 win. Two of Fiddler’s three goals were scored on the power play, which was a welcomed sight for the Cougars who finished the game three-for-six with the man advantage. Hopefully Sunday’s game in Kamloops was the exact type of spark that Fiddler needed to heat up offensively.

WHO’S ON D:

It may have taken 59 games, but second year defenceman Joseph Carvalho recorded his first ever WHL goal on Sunday in Kamloops. Carvalho, who has always had some offensive flare to his game, snuck in past the D and one-timed a Todd Fiddler pass into the goal which gave the Cougars a 7-6 lead. Hopefully that goal can be the first of a few for Carvalho, who could be a real offensive factor for the Cougars on the back end as the season progresses.

WHO’S IN GOAL:

Aside from the coaching staff, nobody in the Prince George Cougars roster was happier with Sunday’s win than 18-year-old goaltender Brett Zarowny. Zarowny had gone nearly 10 full months with a victory, and now that his first one in 2013-2014 is out of the way, he can now focus on further improving his game and getting back to the form which saw him win some big games for the team last season. Zarowny is going to get the start for Prince George tonight, and he’ll need to be at his best against a Medicine Hat Tigers team that is loaded with offensive depth.

X-FACTOR:

The Prince George Cougars need to cut down on their goals against in a major way. Only the Lethbridge Hurricanes have surrendered more goals against than the Cougars this season, and the only way the Cougars are going to improve on that statistic is if they allow fewer shots on goal. Their opponent has record 40-or-more shots on goal in each of the past five games. If the Cougars can keep the Tigers at around 30-or-less tonight, they’ll give themselves a good opportunity to beat the Tigers.