It has become increasingly clearer that the Prince George Cougars are a .500 team that should be good enough to make the playoffs, but will not win the B.C. Division for the first time.

The Cougars sit with 28 victories in 57 games, more than double last season’s win total. Although this increase in victories is positive, in reality, the team was in first place in their division at the Christmas break, but now sit 3^rd in the division and 6^th in the Western Conference.

 

As strange as it may sound, 7th might be a better spot than 6^th to finish, as the 7^th place team will face the B.C. Division winner (likely Vancouver or Kelowna) in the first round of the playoffs while #6 will meet #3 which will probably be Spokane or Tri-City. Both Spokane and Tri-City have more points than any B.C. Division team.

 

The Cougars record is 28-26-2-1. They have scored 210 goals and surrendered 206. They are
5-5 in their last 10 games. They are 12th out of 22 on the power-play and 4th on the penalty kill. In addition, the Cats are also 9th in penalty minutes. Their longest winning streak is 4 (Nov 24 to Dec 1) and their longest losing streak is 5 (Dec 3 to 11).

 

The numbers show that this club is approx .500 in most categories. Of course, .500 means mediocrity or inconsistency. The latest of many examples came last weekend on that Alberta road trip which produced two wins in five games. The Cougars blew a 5-2 third period lead and lost 6-5 in Edmonton. That was followed with a 5-2 loss in Medicine Hat despite outshooting the Tigers 43-20. The Cats rebounded with a 7-2 convincing triumph in Lethbridge, but the next night lost 4-1 in Calgary. The Hitmen, who happen to own the worst record in the WHL, scored three unanswered goals in the opening period. Does anybody think they were ready to play in Calgary, particularly in the first 20 minutes? However, to their credit, the Cougars concluded the trip with a 4-3 overtime victory at Red Deer. The Rebels lead the Central Division and have the second most points in the league. Brett Connolly scored late in regulation and the OT winner to give him 35 goals. (He needs 15 goals in the last 15 games to reach his personal goal of 50)

 

At the start of the season, the Cougars were actually a better road team than at home; however, this quickly changed. The Cats are 16-10-1-1 at CN Centre and 12-16-1 away. One reason the Cougars dropped in the standings is their road woes dropping 10 of their last 13.

 

The team’s inconsistency in goal has mirrored the rest of the club. The forwards look great one game and then appear to care only about their stats another. The defence appears to be solid at times and soft at other times. And both Ty Rimmer and James Priestner, in the net, still have huge question marks, although it finally appears that Rimmer has taken over the number one spot. He was terrific
against the Hurricanes (31 saves) and Rebels (39 saves) but struggled against the Oil Kings and Hitmen.

The Cougars play their next four at home: tonight and Saturday against Everett and Tuesday and Wednesday against Western Conference leading Portland.

The remainder of their schedule includes road games at Spokane on Feb 25th, Everett the 26^th
and Chilliwack the 27th.

In March, the Cougars host Spokane on the 4th and 5th and Red Deer on the 8th. They go back on the road at Vancouver on the 11th, Seattle the 12th and Tri-City on the 13th. The Cats conclude
with a home and home against the Blazers: March 18th in Kamloops and the 19th at CN Centre.

At this time of the year, wins are generally harder to get as teams bump up the intensity with the jockeying for positions at stake. Being a club right in the middle of the pack and capable of beating or losing to any team, are the Cougars contenders or pretenders?

 

I sense that this team will not participate in many playoff games because in the post-season consistent efforts win out.

 

With the stretch drive here, will the real Prince George Cougars please stand up?

 

 

 

There were 59 arrests for prostitution in Dallas before and on Super Bowl Sunday. And in addition to these player agents, some local girls were also picked up.

Bill Buckner made a guest appearance on HBO's 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'. He reportedly tripped over the Curb.

 

So Yankees fans are worried that CC Sabathia might exercise his opt out clause. No need for concern. It's been a long time since CC exercised anything.
Comedy writer Marc Ragovin of New York  

Daryl Strawberry will run up all 88 floors of the Empire State Building to raise money for charity.
It’s Daryl’s latest 1,576-step program.

The Cleveland Cavaliers stopped their 26-game losing streak by defeating the LA Clippers. The Clippers were angry that, for a brief time, the Cavaliers were the punch lines to more jokes than they were.
Comedy writer Jerry Perishohttp://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/

Why all the fuss over A-Rod at the Super Bowl getting his mouth stuffed with popcorn by Cameron Diaz? It beats the alternative—trying to make conversation.
www.Sportsdeke.com

 

 

Washington Redskins DT tackle Albert Haynesworth has been formally charged with assault stemming from a road rage incident earlier this month. Haynesworth plans to call the Washington coaching staff as defense witnesses. They will testify that this year Albert seemed incapable of really hitting anyone.

 

For moments last weekend, Tiger Woods looked like his old self in Dubai. But turns out it was just his spitting image.
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)

 

Tiger Woods is coming under fierce criticism for his golf etiquette. Tiger has decided to change spit coaches and is sorry for anyone affected by the spray of his ball or his fluids, which coincidentally, were in the documents of his divorce.

A spokesman to an image reclamation agency says Tiger is in jeopardy of losing the 100% support of people who spit.
Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)

Confused by all these trade deadlines and negotiating ultimatums?
Now comes word the Nuggets are trying to trade Carmelo Anthony for Albert Pujols.

 

Headline at SportsPickle.com: "Peter Favresberg retires again." 

Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com.