For the second time in a calendar week, the Prince George Cougars were on the wrong end of a 4-2 game against the Kelowna Rockets. Friday night in Prince George, Justin Kirkland and Damon Severson each recorded a goal and an assist for Kelowna in the late stages of the second period to help lift Kelowna to the win. Zach Pochiro responded with two assists for Prince George while Adam Beukeboom had 40 saves in a losing cause for the home team.

After a scoreless first period the Cougars wasted little time in getting the ball rolling offensively in the second. 19 seconds in, Marc McNulty followed up his own rebound and was able to sneak it past the Kelowna netminder and in. For McNulty it was his 17th of the season and came on the power play with Zach Pochiro and Klarc Wilson assisting.

Late in the second, Kelowna responded with a power play marker of their own. Damon Severson let a shot go from the right point that appeared to switch directions before beating Adam Beukeboom.

89 seconds later Kelowna took the lead when Justin Kirkland raced down the left wing and fired a low shot on goal. Beukeboom made the save with his left pad, but the rebound deflected into the net off of the Cougars defender in front of the goal. Kirkland’s 13thcame with just 49 seconds left in the period.

After two periods, Kelowna held a 32-24 edge in the shots department.

Early in the third, Kelowna extended their lead to 3-1 when Ryan Olsen converted off a Myles Bell pass while four-on-four.

Todd Fiddler brought the Cougars back within a goal just past the mid-way point of the second period when he banged home his own rebound from the left side of the goal, but Kelowna then quickly restored the two goal lead when Marek Tvrdon stole the puck at the Cougars blueline and raced in alone before beating Beukeboom with a low shot to the stick side.

 The Cougars had two power plays late in the game, but were unable to convert on their opportunities, and Kelowna held on for the win.

Prince George finished the game one-for-five on the power play while the Rockets finished one-for-four. The final shots favored Kelowna 44-37.

Thankfully though for the Cougars they still remain just two points shy of a playoff spot thanks to the Tri-City Americans’ 6-4 loss to the Prince Albert Raiders.

The Cougars will look to inch closer to eighth tomorrow night when they host Kelowna for the rematch.