Cougars Clinch Playoff Spot With 3-2 Win In Kamloops

By 250 News

The Prince George Cougars were able to prevail in a hard fought showdown with the Kamloops Blazers Friday, taking a 3-2 shoot-out win and clinching a spot in the 2011 WHL playoffs.

The Cougars came into Friday's game in Kamloops three points ahead of the Blazers and Seattle Thunderbirds, with the Blazers hosting the first game of a home-and-home season ending series between the BC division rivals.  The Cougars came into the game winners of five straight in the head-to-head series with the Blazers and Captain Brett Connolly got the offense started at 7:58 of the first period.  James Dobrowolski knocked the puck into the Blazers zone from the Cougars blue-line and raced into the Kamloops zone to pick up the puck.  Connolly raced down the right wing to join the play and took a pass from Dobrowolski and ripped a wrist shot home for his 44th goal of the season to break the ice.  Taylor Stefishen also picked up an assist on the goal.  30 seconds later, with the Cougars on a power play, Connolly would strike again, snapping a rebound home from the left wing side to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead.  Stefishen and Dobrowolski again picked up the assists.  The Blazers cut the lead in half at 13:19 when Berhard Keil chased a loose puck in the Cougars end and poked it past Ty Rimmer, who charged out of the Cougars goal, making it 2-1 Cougars.  Prince George out-shot Kamloops 9-8 in the first.

The Cougars out-shot Kamloops 10-6 in a scoreless second period, leaving the Cougars one period away from eliminating the Blazers from playoff contention.  However, Thomas Frazee got the Blazers back on even terms just over two minutes into the third period to tie the game at two.  The teams headed to overtime, although the Cougars survived a scare at the end of the third, when the Blazers took the puck out of the right wing corner and scored, but the period had just expired before the shot was across the goal line.  The Blazers out-shot the Cougars 14-5 in the third and the Cougars had guaranteed themselves no worse than a tie with the Blazers in the standings.

The Cougars out-shot the Blazers 2-1 in overtime, but Blazers goalie Jeff Bosch kept the game tied with a big pad stop on Martin Marincin on a Cougars last minute power play.  The Blazers out-shot the Cougars 29-27 through 65 minutes, but the game remained tied at two, leaving a shoot-out to determine the out-come.

The Blazers had the first shot, but through six rounds it made no difference, with both goalies perfect.  Then, Rimmer stopped Jordan DePape setting the stage for Charles Inglis, with one shoot-out winner already on the year.  Inglis double pumped, then went to the forehand where he roofed a shot under the bar for a 3-2 Cougars win.  That, coupled with Seattle's 5-0 loss in Spokane, clinched a playoff spot for the Cougars, who also moved past Everett into seventh in the Western Conference.

The Cougars can secure the seventh spot Saturday when they finish the regular season against the Blazers at CN Centre, starting at 7:00pm.  The Cougars need a win and an Everett loss to earn seventh.  Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.  Playoff tickets go on sale Monday morning at 10:00am.

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