Tonight in Vancouver, the Prince George Cougars will play their third game in three nights and their final game altogether before the holiday break. So far on the trip the Cougars have looked brilliant in a 5-1 win in Kennewick on Friday, and below average in a 6-3 loss last night in Spokane. A lack of consistency continues to plague the Cougars this season, and tonight they are going to be in tough against a Vancouver Giants team who has only lost once in regulation over their past 10 games.

Overview:

Don Hay's Vancouver Giants come into tonight's game with a record of 17-12-5-2. They have won four straight and again have earned at least a single point in nine of their past 10 games. So far this season the Giants are 4-1 against the Cougars and have won nine straight games against the Cougars at the Pacific Coliseum.

Who's Up Front:

The dream season continues for 18-year-old forward Carter Popoff who leads the Giants with 40 points through 36 games this season. Popoff has nine points in his past four games, and has been a beacon of consistency for Vancouver this season.

Who's on D:

Speaking of consistency, it's hard to find many defenders who are as skilled and steady as 19-year-old Brett Kulak. Kulak has 13 goals and 36 points for Vancouver, which are tops among the team's defensemen. Six of Kulak's 13 goals this season have come on the power play. So far this season, Kulak has seven points in five games this season against Prince George.

Who's in Goal:

So far this weekend Jared Rathjen has started both games for Vancouver and has won them all. Will Don Hay give Rathjen his third start in three nights? Or will he give way to the youngster Payton Lee? Both Lee and Rathjen have two wins each against the Cougars this season.

X-Factor:

Hard work is the staple of their success, and tonight at home the Giants will look to draw from the same well of water that's allowed for their previous success against the Cougars. Physicality, discipline and timely scoring will all be neccessary again for the Giants who are looking for their third win in three nights.

Overview:

Mark Holick's Prince George Cougars are wrapping up their third game in three nights, and as mentioned earlier they have showed a number of different sides to their style over the course of the first two games. Friday they were brilliant, yesterday they struggled, and the results are indicitive of the effort. Tonight the Cougars will play Vancouver for the sixth time this season. A win tonight for the Cougars will do wonders for their morale as their holiday break looms.

Who's Up Front:

20-year-old forward Todd Fiddler continues to provide offensive consistency for the Prince George Cougars. Last night, Fiddler added another goal and two assists, and has now notched seven points over his past three games, and is riding a nine game point streak heading into tonight's matchup with Vancouver. Fiddler has done everything asked of him and then some since arriving in early November, and it might take another strong game from Fiddler and his linemates Jordan Tkatch and Klarc Wilson to help the Cougars to victory tonight.

Who's on D:

Tonight the Cougars will have a new face on the back-end as 19-year-old Joshua Smith draws into the lineup for the first time since the 2011-2012 season. Smith is a right-handed shot with a nice two-way mix to his game. He plays physically, but he's also a strong skater with a deceptive shot. Hopefully Smith's transition is seemless, and he can make an immediate impact tonight against Vancouver.

Who's in Goal:

All signs are pointing to Ty Edmonds making his ninth straight start for the Prince George Cougars. As the Cougars have gone so far on this trip, so has Ty Edmonds. He was brilliant on Friday but struggled Saturday, and hopefully tonight Edmonds can bounce back with a similar effort to Friday. The Cougars have had to ride the rookie netminder because of Brett Zarowny's injury, and hopefully Edmonds can dig deep and use whatever is left in the fuel tank tonight before he gets a well-deserved break.

X-Factor:

With their holiday break looming tonight it's all about finding a way for the Prince George Cougars. Yes they're tired, and yes they have had a hectic trip worth of travel and distraction. But hopefully tonight the Cougars are able to put all of that aside and find a way to defeat a red-hot Vancouver Giants team. It would make their holiday break all the more sweeter should they be able to earn two road points tonight at the Pacific Coliseum.