Cougars Down the Chiefs in O.T.

The Prince George Cougars are still in the mix for the top eight of the Western Conference thanks to a 4-3 overtime victory on Saturday against Spokane. Cody Carlson scored the winner 18 seconds into the extra period, and Troy Bourke paced the Cougars with three assists in the victory. The Cougars power play was three-for-five.

The Spokane Chiefs drew first blood on a power play marker of their own. Mitch Holmberg potted his 26th of the season on a five-on-three man advantage to give his team the early lead.

Shortly past the mid-way point of the first, the Cougars got it back on a power play of their own. Caleb Belter whacked home a rebound for his sixth of the season, making it 1-1. Troy Bourke and Cody Carlson drew the assists.

Early in the second, Spokane took their lead back when Dominik Uher beat Drew Owsley for his 29th goal of the season.

This time there would be no second-period collapse though. Linden Springer evened the score at 6:55 of the second after he put home his own rebound for his second of the year. Both of Springer’s goals this season have come against the Spokane Chiefs.

Chase Witala gave the Cougars their first lead when he put home a Troy Bourke pass on a two-on-one. Witala’s seventh gave the Cats a 3-2 lead heading into the mid-way portion of the period.

Corbin Baldwin evened the score when he scored from the left-point. Baldwin’s shot went off of the Cougars defense and in past Drew Owsley and the score was 3-3 after 40.

The third period solved nothing, and overtime was needed.

Prince George started over-time on a power play as Spokane was assessed a too-many-men penalty with just 16 seconds left in regulation.

18-seconds into overtime, Cody Carlson one-timed a Troy Bourke pass by Eric Williams for his ninth of the season.

The victory gives the Cougars a record of 20-43-0-2 and they manage to stay five points back of Everett for eighth place in the West.

Prince George finished three-for-five on the power play, and were outshot 37-28.

Next up: Two huge games at home against the Seattle Thunderbirds on Tuesday and Wednesday.