Wednesday night in Prince George, the Cougars dropped a 6-4 score to the Portland Winterhawks. Nicolas Petan had a goal and two assists for Portland while Keegan Iverson chipped in with two goals for the visitors. Troy Bourke responded with two goals and an assist for the Cougars who have now dropped two straight games.

Portland wasted little time in getting an early lead. Oliver Bjorkstrand took a Nic Petan pass and beat Ty Edmonds with a low show from the high slot to reach the 40 goal mark.

Back came the Cougars with two quick goals in the late stages of the first period. First it was Brad Morrison who followed up a Jordan Tkatch shot and banged home a rebound for his 11th of the season, and fifth goal in his last four games altogether.

39 seconds later Marc McNulty took a Jansen Harkins pass in the low slot and roofed one past Corbin Boes for his 15th goal of the season. McNulty's goal extended his point streak to eight games.

Portland tied the game just 33 seconds into the second when Nic Petan stole the puck at the Cougars blueline, and raced in alone on a shorthanded breakaway. Petan made no mistake from in close and notched his 30th of the season.

Just under two minutes later, Portland regained the lead when Garrett Haar snuck in from the left point, and converted off a Brendan Leipsic pass for his seventh of the season, and second goal in as many games.

Mid-way through the second, Prince George had an awesome chance to tie the game, but Corbin Boes made a great pad save off of Todd Fiddler, and then seconds later at the other end, Keegan Iverson was able to knock home his 17th of the season past Ty Edmonds to give Portland a two goal cushion.

Back came the Cougars though in the late stages of the period when Troy Bourke stopped a Tate Olson pass in front of the Portland goal, and then outwaited Corbin Boes for his 22nd goal of the season, and the Cougars only trailed by a goal heading into the third.

Keegan Iverson restored Portland's two goal advantage at the 6:23 mark of the third, but back came Troy Bourke again for the Cougars.

At 8:03 of the period, Bourke brought his team back within one thanks to a gorgeous individual effort. Bourke took the puck from his own zone and raced wide on the Portland defense before stuffing one past Boes on a forehand deke.

Next shift, the Cougars came within an eyelash of tying the game, but Corbin Boes made a miraculous glove save off of Todd Fiddler to keep his team ahead.

Taylor Leier then iced the game for Portland with his 29th of the season at 12:01 of the final period.

Portland outshot the Cougars 35-24 through 60 minutes, and won the special teams war for a second straight game. The Winterhawks finished one-for-three on the power play and had a shorthanded goal while the Cougars were scoreless on all five of their power play chances.

The Cougars loss coupled with Tri-City's overtime loss in Victoria means that the Cougars now trail the eighth placed Americans by five points in the Western Conference playoff race.

Next up for the Cougars, the Kelowna Rockets in Kelowna on Friday night.