Prince George, B.C. – Bring out any cliché you want, the bottom line is the Prince George Cougars have to beat the Victoria Royals three straight times between now and Wednesday, twice in Victoria,  to remain in the Western Hockey League playoffs.

The Royals have a commanding 3 games to 1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference quarter-final, coming off their 3-0 blanking of the Cats in Game 4 at CN Centre Thursday night.  The teams are on the island for Game 5 at 7:05 tonight.  If the Cougars win they force a Game 6 in Prince George Monday night.  Game 7, if needed, would be played Wednesday night back in Victoria.

A tall order for the Cougars, but the series has been tighter than the Royals’ 3-1 lead would indicate, so it’s a one shift-one period-one game at a time scenario as the Cougars battle to keep their season going.