The Prince George Cougars will kick off their 2014 schedule tonight at home against a familiar foe. For the fifth time this season, the Prince George Cougars will go head-to-head with the Kamloops Blazers in the first of back-to-back games at the CN Centre. For the Prince George Cougars it's easily their most important weekend of the season to date, as they look to snap a three game losing streak and inch a little closer to eighth place in the Western Conference playoffs in the process. Despite being four points ahead of where they were a season ago, the Cougars still find themselves five points out of eighth place, and hopefully a new year can help kickstart their standings climb.

OVERVIEW:

Dave Hunchak's Kamloops Blazers are coming into tonight's game with an overall record of 10-25-2-2. They are 4-6 in their last 10 games, and are nine points back of the fourth place Cougars in the B.C. Division. So far this season Kamloops is 1-3 against the Cougars and have dropped three straight decisions. The Blazers are coming off a 7-1 win in Seatte earlier this week.

WHO'S UP FRONT:

With 12 points in 11 December games, the Kamloops  Blazers have to be pleased with the consistent offensive production of 18-year-old Dallas Stars prospect Cole Ully. The third year forward out of Calgary, AB leads the Blazers with 40 points in 37 games, and has three goals and five points in three games so far this season against Prince George.

WHO'S ON D:

It was been a terrific breakout season (at least offensively) for third year Kamloops rearguard Josh Connolly. With 31 points in 37 games, Connolly leads all Kamloops defenders, and is third on team scoring. In four games against the Cougars this season, Connolly has tallied two goals and four points. Four of Connolly's seven goals this season have been scored on the power play.

WHO'S IN GOAL:

With goaltender olton Pouliot still listed as day-to-day, odds are good that 19-year-old Taran Kozun will see at least some of the action this weekend between the pipes for Kamloops. Kozun is 5-17-1-2 and one of those wins came at the CN Centre on September 27th against the Cougars. Kozun's goals-against-average is 3.90 but his save percentage remains just under the .900 mark. The Blazers will need a big weekend from their netminder to be successful.

X-FACTOR:

With 16 goals and 31 points this season, 19-year-old forward Aspen Sterzer has enjoyed a strong breakout campaign with the Blazers. His previous season high was 18 points which was set two seasons ago, and his 16 goals trumps his previous season high of five. Sterzer has tallied four points in four games this season against the Cougars, and given some of the key injuries up front, it will be up to the likes of Sterzer to supply offense for Kamloops this weekend if they want to be successful.

OVERVIEW:

Mark Holick's Prince George Cougars come into tonight's game having lost three straight games. With a record of 14-21-2-3, the Cougars are five points outside of eighth place in the Western Conference standings, and are going to need some wins themselves, plus some help along the way if they want to reach the eighth place playoff spot. It was a frustrating road trip in all areas for the Cougars after the holiday break, and to a man the Cougars are hoping that a new year can provoke a new lease on life for the 2013-2014 Cougars.

WHO'S UP FRONT:

Nobody on the Cougars roster is more disappointed to see December end than 18-year-old forward Jordan Tkatch. With 11 points in nine December games, Tkatch was tied for the team lead in scoring for December, and had an eight game point streak that got snapped on Monday in Vancouver. Tkatch has 27 points which is seven points above his previous season high, and hopefully the month of January can produce more success for the product of Prud'Homme, SK.

WHO'S ON D:

Defensively the Cougars have surrendered 18 goals in their previous three games, which simply isn't good enough. Defensively coverage and discipline was just one of the many sore spots for the Cougars during their recent road swing, and tonight against Kamloops it will be important for the Cougars to maintain some edge and composure in their own end. A little offense wouldn't hurt either as the Cougars haven't gotten a goal from a defenceman since November 30th.

WHO'S IN GOAL:

With Brett Zarowny still on the shelf with an injury, it means that Ty Edmonds is in line for his 13th consecutive start for Prince George. So far this season, Edmonds is 2-0 against Kamloops, and hopefully tonight can be a bounce back night him after three tough outings in a row on the road. There is no doubting his ability, it's only a matter now of him finding that ability on a consistent basis. Hopefully tonight can be the start of something good for Ty Edmonds.

X-FACTOR:

The Cougars are a team that usually thrives when they score the first goal. When they score first, they are 10-5-2-1 this season. Quick starts have not been very common for the Cougars in recent weeks, and tonight at home against the Blazers it will be key for the Cougars to establish themselves early. Whether it's with a goal, a hit, or a fight – The Cougars need to get the fans into the game, and need to kick the tempo up a few notches. The Blazers will make you pay if you take them lightly, and tonight the Cougars simply need to focus on fixing their own game, and hopefully the results can take care of themselves.