This is no smoke-and-mirrors illusion.
The Kamloops Blazers have the Prince George Cougars under their spell.
The Blazers beat the Cougars 3-1 Friday night in Kamloops, their sixth win in six tries over their WHL B.C. Division rivals this season, extending the Cougars' losing streak to eight games.
The win moved the fourth-place Blazers (20-25-3-1) seven points ahead of the fifth-place Cougars (16-28-3-2).
Kyrell Sopotyk had two goals to pace the Blazers' attack.
The Blazers connected on their first quality chance of the game, 9:35 into the first period. Sopotyk banked in a shot off the leg of Cougars forward Connor Bowie before goalie Taylor Gauthier had time to react. The Blazers added to the total with 25 seconds left in the period on a shot from Orrin Centazzo.
Trailing 2-0 in the second period, the Cougars scored 3:09 into the frame while on the power play. Vladislav Mikhalchuk took the puck off the end boards after a shot from Cole Moberg went wide and the Belarusian import snapped in his 18th of the season.
In the third period, Brodi Stuart took off on a breakaway with defencemen Moberg and Ryan Schoettler trapped in the Kamloops zone and Gauthier made the initial stop but he inadvertently kicked the uncovered puck in with his pad as he spun in the crease. That came 10:31 into the final frame. Sopotyk added an empty-netter with 1:27 left.
Dylan Ferguson made 26 saves for his 14th win of the season.
The Blazers fired 44 shots on Gauthier.
The Cougars were without centre Ilijah Colina, who returned to his home in North Delta for personal reasons, fully supported by the team. Defenceman Joel Lakusta was also scratched.
The Cats will try to end their slump tonight in Langley against the B.C. Division-leading Vancouver Giants. They'll also play the Giants on Tuesday and Wednesday in Prince George.
