Cougars Open Playoffs In Kelowna Friday

By 250 Sports

It's square one for 16 WHL teams who qualified for the 2011 Western Hockey League playoffs, presented by Kal Tire and Husky Mohawk.  The Prince George Cougars get an all-BC showdown when they square off with the Kelowna Rockets in the Kal Tire Western Conference Quarter Final, which starts Friday in Kelowna.

The Cougars faced the Rockets more than any other opponent during the 2010-11 season, getting together nine times.  The Cougars went 3-5-1-0 against the Rockets this season and won back-to-back games against the Rockets in Prince George February 4 and 5.  Those wins ended a six game slide against the Rockets in head-to-head play, with the Cougars only win of the season at Prospera Place on the second night of the schedule, a 6-2 pounding on September 25.  Nick Buonassisi led the Cougars in scoring against the Rockets this with eight points, four of which coming in the first clash between the two rivals.  Brett Connolly, Taylor Stefishen and Troy Bourke led the Cougars with four goals in the season series.

Surprisingly, there has only been one previous post-season clash between the Cougars and Rockets.  The teams got together in 2000 in the opening round, following the Cougars franchise high 95 point season, going 43-25-4-5, finishing second in the Western Conference.  The Rockets, though, put an early scare on the Cougars with a 4-2 victory at CN Centre, but the Cougars recovered to win the next four, highlighted by a 4-3 overtime win to clinch the series in game 5, with Trent Hunter providing the series clinching goal.

Games 1 and 2 of the Cougars/Rockets 2011 series are at Prospera Place Friday and Saturday.  The Cougars will host their first playoff game since 2009 on Tuesday for game 3 of the series, starting at 7:00pm.  Game 4 is in Prince George Wednesday night, starting at 7:00pm.  Game 5, if necessary is back in Kelowna on Friday, April 1.  Should the series go to game 6, it will be played at CN Centre on Sunday, April 3, beginning at 5:00pm.  Game 7, if necessary, will be back in Kelowna on Wednesday, April 5.  Cougars playoff tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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