Josh Maser's tipped-in goal on the power play early in the second period knotted the score, but the Kelowna Rockets had an answer for that which left the Prince George Cougars completely baffled Wednesday night at CN Centre.
Liam Kindree found the Cougar net while shorthanded late period after Rockets captain Nolan Foote forced a turnover in the Cougars' end and Foote sealed a 4-2 victory in the third period, cashing in a 2-on-1 break for his team-leading seventh goal and 16th point.
It was a disappointing end to a four-game homestand for the Cougars, who suffered a 7-2 loss to the Swift Current Broncos on Tuesday.
Trevor Wong, on a rebound, and Leif Mattson, on a partial breakaway, staked the Rockets to an early 2-0 lead. Cougars centre Ilijah Colina potted a power-play rebound late in the opening period for his first goal since Jan. 22. The two power-play goals for the Cougars ended a 1-for-15 drought with the man advantage the previous five games.
The Cougars outshot the Rockets 35-34. Roman Basra picked up the win in net for Kelowna while Cougars goalie Taylor Gauthier suffered his eight loss of the season.
The win moved the Rockets (7-4-1-0) in to second place in the B.C. Division, one point ahead of third-place Vancouver. Prince George (3-8-0-1) remained fifth in the division.
The Cougars are on the road for their next two games. They'll be in Kennewick, Wash., to play the Tri-City Americans Saturday night, then head to Langley for a Sunday afternoon encounter with the Vancouver Giants.
Meanwhile, at the WHL Cup in Calgary, left winger Nico Myatovic assisted on Team B.C.'s second goal of the game in the second period Wednesday and they went on to defeat Saskatchewan 6-4.
Myatovic, 14, who captained the Prince George-based North Central Bobcats to a provincial championship in March at Kin 1, plays for the Cariboo Cougars major midget team. The Seattle Thunderbirds' prospect was selected by Seattle in the sixth round of the WHL bantam draft.
Kyren Gronick, a right winger selected by the Cougars in the second round (26th overall) in 2019, had a goal and an assist for Saskatchewan.
Three other Cougars prospects are playing in the WHL Cup, all for Team Alberta. Defenceman Jaren Brinson, selected by the Cougars in the second round (36th overall), scored Alberta's third goal in a 7-3 win Wednesday over Manitoba.
Defenceman Keaton Dowhaniuk (selected third overall by the Cougars in 2019) and right winger Koehn Ziemmer (the Cats' fourth-overall selection in 2019) were held off the scoreboard.
The tournament resumes Friday with Saskatchewan facing Manitoba (2 p.m. PT), followed by the B.C.-Alberta game (5 p.m. PT).
