The Prince George Cougars are heading into the month of March back in the top eight in the Western Conference standings. Saturday night in Everett, the Prince George Cougars defeated the US Division leading Everett Silvertips by a 5-1 score. Chase Witala led the way with two goals for the Cougars while Jansen Harkins added three assists. Ty Edmonds turned aside 27 shots he faced to help the Cougars to their 26^th victory of the season. The Cougars victory coupled with the Vancouver Giants loss to Kamloops moved the Cougars into third place in the B.C. Division.

After a back-and-forth start to the game, Everett drew first blood at the 10:16 mark of the first. Former Cougar Jake Mykitiuk knocked home a Logan Aasman pass off a two-on-one rush for his third goal of the season.

Everett’s only lead of the game wouldn’t last long. Less than three minutes later, Prince George tied the game when Chase Witala snuck a low shot past Austin Lotz from the right circle on a power play.  Josh Connolly’s initial point shot was blocked, but the puck arrived right onto the stuck of Witala who buried his 31^st of the season to tie the game.

Prince George killed off two late penalties in the first period, and the teams went into the first intermission tied 1-1. Everett had a 13-8 edge in the shots department.

8:21 into the second period the Cougars took the lead when Jansen Harkins and Aaron Boyd teamed up off an Everett defensive zone turnover. Harkins won the puck free along the right wing boards and centered a pass to Boyd who did the rest, sneaking a low shot through Austin Lotz and in for his sixth goal of the season.

Ty Edmonds came up with some timely saves late in the second to keep the Cougars ahead 2-1, and eventually Edmonds’ teammates would reward him with some more offense.

With just a minute and 28 seconds left in the second Zach Pochiro increased the Cougars lead when he ripped a wrist shot over the blocker of Lotz that went bar-down. Pochiro’s 16^thgoal of the season was scored unassisted and the Cougars took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.

Jari Erricson increased the Cougars lead to 4-1 at the 7:21 mark of the third period during a five-on-three power play. Josh Connolly’s point shot was initially stopped by Austin Lotz, but Erricson pounced on the rebound and buried it for his 21^st goal of the season. Jansen Harkins recorded his third assist of the game on the Erricson marker giving him 57 on the season.

Chase Witala added a late goal at 17:48 on a shorthanded breakaway which iced the game for the Cougars who improved their record to 26-33-2-2. Mark Holick’s team finished two-for-four on the power play and killed off all five Everett power play chances. The Cougars outshot Everett by a slim 29-28 margin.

With the victory, the Cougars now find themselves back in the top three in the B.C. Division thanks to a 6-3 Kamloops victory over the Vancouver Giants. Getting back into the top eight in the final game of February is a nice accomplishment for the Cougars who finish the month with a 6-2-1-1 record. The Cougars have won three straight and five of their past six games.

After a remarkable stretch of road hockey, the Cougars will now head home for their next three games, and will look to continue their push up the standings when they host the Calgary Hitmen on Wednesday night at the CN Centre.