Tonight in Kamloops the Prince George Cougars will go to battle with their closest rivals in the first of back-to-back games between the two clubs to end the regular season. A lot has changed over the course of a month, and the stakes are very high for both clubs. It’s simple: a single point over the next two games for Kamloops would ensure that they finish third in the B.C. Division and would mean that they would battle the Kelowna Rockets in the first round. But the Prince George Cougars are still in a position to spoil the party for Kamloops. Two regulation victories for the Prince George Cougars would help them climb back into third and would keep them in B.C. for the first round. Meanwhile down South the Seattle Thunderbirds wait patiently to find out who their first round foe will be.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS

OVERVIEW:

Head Coach: Don Hay

Record: 36-25-5-4 (3^rd in the B.C. Division, four points up on Prince George)

Streak: 7W

Last 10: 9-1

Home Record: 19-10-4-2

Record Against Prince George: 4-3-0-1 (3-0-0-1 at home)

WHO’S UP FRONT:

COLLIN SHIRLEY has 15 points in eight games against the Cougars this season and leads all Kamloops scorers with 35 goals and 77 points in 70 games played this season. MATT REVEL, DEVEN SIDEROFF, GAGE QUINNEY all have at least a point-per-game against the Cougars this season through eight meetings.

WHO’S ON D:

ONDREJ VALA has a goal and seven assists for eight points in eight games against Prince George. DAWSON DAVIDSON has three goals and four assists for seven points in five games played against the Cougars. DAWSON DAVIDSON and RYAN REHILL are tied for the team lead in scoring among defencemen with 38 points apiece.

WHO’S IN GOAL:

CONNOR INGRAM is the hottest goaltender going right now in the WHL. The reigning WHL Goaltender of the Month is 33-15-5-4 through 60 games with a 2.64 goals-against-average and a save percentage of .921 which is the second best total in the entire WHL. He’s also got four shutouts. In seven games in March, he’s 7-0 with a .952 save percentage, one shutout and a goals-against-average of 1.69.

X-FACTOR(S):

This team is 9-1 in their last 10 and have won seven straight. They’re red hot, and it’s going to take a big-time effort in all three zones by the Cougars in order to prevail in regulation time. The biggest factor for Kamloops right now is CONFIDENCE and we’ll see how that translates into tonight as they have their first actual chance to clinch third place in the division with a single point tonight.

PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS

OVERVIEW:

Head Coach: Mark Holick

Record: 36-29-3-2 (4^th in the B.C. Division, four points behind Kamloops)

Streak: 3L (0-2-0-1)

Last 10: 4-5-0-1

Away Record: 15-17-1-1

Record Against Kamloops: 4-3-0-1 (1-3 in Kamloops)

WHO’S UP FRONT:

BRAD MORRISON is coming off a two goal outing Sunday in Victoria. For the season MORRISON has accumulated 28 goals and 34 assists for 62 points, a new season high for him after recording 50 points a season ago. Both CHASE WITALA and JESSE GABRIELLE have 40 goals. The only other team in the WHL with two 40 goal scorers:  The Brandon Wheat Kings (Hawryluk, Patrick).

WHO’S ON D:

The Cougars are going to need a big game from their top three veterans: SAM RUOPP, JOE CARVALHO and TATE OLSON. RUOPP is tops on the team in plus-minus with a +23, OLSON leads all Cougar defencemen in both goals (nine) and points (47). JOE CARVALHO is the 20-year-old and a calming presence for the Cougars who can play big minutes in all situations.

WHO’S IN GOAL:

TY EDMONDS has had a relatively strong month of March considering the recent travel and the difficulty of opponent. He’s 2-2-0-1 with a .908 save percentage, and a 2.98 goals-against-average. Keep in mind, one of his losses was a 6-2 game in Victoria. For the season EDMONDS is 21-16-2-1 with four shutouts, a .913 save percentage (ninth in the WHL) and a 2.75 goals-against-average. He’ll get the call tonight in goal for the Cougars.

X-FACTOR(S):

DESPERATION will be name of the game tonight for the Cougars. They would love nothing more than to swoop right in and steal third place in the B.C. Division back from the Blazers. In order to do so they’ll need to stay disciplined, score timely goals and defend the speedy Blazers well. The second big key: Solve CONNOR INGRAM! He’s been stellar in recent weeks for the Blazers, but the Cougars have made him look human at times this season. He’s 4-1-0-1 against the Cougars with a 2.73 goals-against-average and a .927 save percentage.