The Western Hockey League franchise now known as the Prince George Cougars didn’t do a lot of winning on Blanshard Street during the final years of its 23 seasons as the Victoria Cougars at the old Memorial Arena.

But the Cougars, in a twist of historical irony, sure picked an opportune time Saturday to record a victory on Blanshard. And just to twist the knife a little more, their 3-1 decision over the Victoria Royals came in a key late-season game before a capacity crowd of 7,006 at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.

With 13 games left, the Royals remained in a seventh-place tie with the Seattle Thunderbirds, 11-2 losers to Portland on Saturday. But that hold by the Royals and T-Birds on the final two playoff berths in the Western Conference is tenuous at best.

The 10th-place Cougars, who hold two games in hand on the Royals, moved to within two points of Victoria and Seattle. The ninth-place Everett Silvertips, 4-3 shootout victors over the Vancouver Giants, edged to within one point of Victoria and Seattle with a game in hand on the Royals.

“It could have been a six-point lead over Prince George, but it’s down to two points and there is nothing satisfying about that,” said Victoria defenceman Jordan Fransoo, a seventh-round draft pick of the Ottawa Senators.

The two Islanders on the Cougars figured into the win as Prince George jumped to a 3-0 first-period lead with Victoria native Cody Carlson assisting on Caleb Belter’s power-play goal and Greg Fraser of Nanaimo scoring shorthanded.

Defenceman Hayden Rintoul’s 14th goal of the season pulled Victoria to within two on the power play in the last minute of the first period. There, however, was no further scoring.

“We can’t come out flat like we did,” said Fransoo.

“We didn’t have jump in the first period. That killed us. It starts everywhere, from the goalie on out. We have to do a better job in all areas.”

Victoria starting goaltender Keith Hamilton, who allowed three goals on just 10 Prince George shots, was replaced by Jared Rathjen at 18:55 of the first period. Rathjen, a Prince George native, shut down his hometown club the rest of the way with 17 saves. Cougars goalie Drew Owsley stood firm in keeping the Royals at bay with 28 saves.

The Royals are in Kamloops on Wednesday before a crucial two-game set Friday and next Saturday in Prince George.

ICE CHIPS: It was the fifth sellout of the season at the Memorial Centre . . . The Royals will hold their Monday practice in Sooke at 5 p.m.