The Prince George Cougars will start the WHL playoffs on Friday, March 27th, but 4,430 fans were treated to a playoff-like game at the CN Centre Tuesday night, as the Cats came away with a 3-2 shootout win over the Kamloops Broncos.
The Blazers were buzzing in overtime, but the hockey gods refused to give Kamloops the overtime goal.
The Blazers hit multiple posts, and projected first-round pick JP Hurlbert’s stick broke with an opportunity in the slot.
In the shootout, Dmitri Yakutsenak and Aiden Foster put the Cougars’ first and second round shots off the post and in.
For Kamloops, their night ended when Josh Evaschesen rang one off the post in the second round of the shootout, after Josh Ravensbergen shut the door on Hurlbert in the first round.
Despite the win, the Cougars did not look great on the night, with many routine plays and passes missing.
One thing the Cougars did well in the game was bringing a lot of physicality, finishing checks whenever possible.
“It was a real grind out there, we didn’t have our A game tonight, so we just had to keep grinding,” said Cougars Head Coach and GM Mark Lamb on the post-game show on 94.3 the Goat.
“Rav was excellent in the third period and overtime.”
Ravensbergen made 34 saves on the night, including some key saves down the stretch with the Blazers pushing for the lead.
🎥 SAVE OF THE NIGHT 🎥
The Berger coming in clutch, one #SaveoftheNight at a time! 🍔❌@SanJoseSharks | #TheFutureIsTeal | @PGCougars pic.twitter.com/bcTxYZGXC0
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 18, 2026
The Blazers struck first, Nathan Behm opened the scoring, firing the puck through Ravensbergen’s five hole after taking a feed from Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Harrison Brunicke in the slot 7:05 into the first period.
BRUNO ➡️ BEHMER🚨 pic.twitter.com/pllsi4PGxC
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) March 18, 2026
Terik Parascak evened the score 14:19 into the first, potting home a loose puck in front of the Kamloops net after it was centred by Brock Souch.
Perry on the doorstep, puck in the net. A tale as old as time.@Capitals | @CarlsJrCA https://t.co/T1mUlbS1bB pic.twitter.com/cr414A6Iul
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) March 18, 2026
Koy Funk put the Cougars in front with 13.8 to go in the opening stanza, using one hand to tip home a centering feed from Dawson Seitz.
Koy Funk chips home his 5th of the season put us in the lead after one!@CarlsJrCA pic.twitter.com/MEFkTEZE2g
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) March 18, 2026
6:58 into the second period, Vit Zahejsky restored the tie with a shot that may have hit a Cougar stick before zipping past Ravensbergen and setting up overtime.
VIT HEATER! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JJqK8tY4ae
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) March 18, 2026
The box score is here.
The Cougars (42-22-2-0) are now ahead of the Kelowna Rockets (38-19-6-3) in the BC Division standings by a single point. The two teams are currently battling for third in the Western Conference.
The Spokane Chiefs (35-29-1-0) are fifth in the conference, and are tied with the sixth place Blazers (29-24-7-6) at 71 points.
The WHL standing are here.
The Cougars will finish off the regular season with a double header against the Victoria Royals (66GP, 28-29-6-3, 65 pts).
The Royals are on the outside looking in in a three-way battle with the Seattle Thunderbirds (65GP, 28-27-6-4, 66 pts) and the Portland Winterhawks (66GP, 29-30-6-1, 65 pts) for the last two playoff spots in the Western Conference.
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