With two goals a minute apart in the third period the Victoria Royals left Prince George with a sweep of their weekend series in Prince George, handing the Cougars a 4-3 loss Saturday night at CN Centre.
Mitch Deacon tied the Western Hockey League game with his fourth of the season and then defenceman Brett Cote notched the winner about a minute later with a perfectly placed shot in the top corner from his point position.
Jamie Crooks and Austin Carroll gave the Royals a 2-0 advantage in the first period but the Cougars tied it up at 2-2 before the period was done on a shorthanded goal by Daulton Siwak and Ryan Hanes fourth of the season. Marc McNulty gave the Cougars a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes as the home side dominated the play out shooting the Royals 17-4 in the second period.
It's the Cougars (9-14-1-3) third straight loss to the Royals (15-12-0-1).
The announced attendance was 1,651.
The Cougars return to action Tuesday when the Moose Jaw Warriors visit Prince George.
Western Hockey League
Saturday, Dec. 1 2012
CN Centre
Victoria Royals 4 Prince George Cougars 3
First period:
1. Victoria Jamie Crooks 14 (Magee, J. Walker) 7:25
2. Victoria Austin Carroll 4 (Nelson, Magee) 12:03 pp
3. Prince George Daulton Siwak 6 13:12 sh
4. Prince George Ryan Hanes 4 (Forsberg, Siwak) 17:50
Penalties: Gagnon VIC (goaltender interference) 2:52; McNulty PG (slashing), Roulstone PG (cross checking) 11:50; Gogolev VIC (tripping) 18:43; B. Walker VIC (roughing), Pochiro PG (roughing) 19:57.
Second period:
5. Prince George Marc McNulty 5 (Erricson) 10:16
Penalties: Magee VIC (slashing, unsportsmanlike conduct) 15:41.
Third period:
6. Victoria Mitch Deacon 2 (Fisher, J. Walker) 12:15
7. Victoria Brett Cote 4 (Carroll) 13:14
Penalties: Magee VIC (goalie interference) 3:18.
Shots:
Victoria 10 4 12 26
Prince George 14 17 6 37
Goal: Victoria Patrik Polivka (W 12-6-0-1), Prince George Mac Engel (L 9)
Power play: Victoria 1/2 Prince George 0/5
Referees: Jeff Ingram, Chris Crich; Ron Dietterle, Brendon Creyke
Attendance: 1,651
