Chase Witala scored 1:15 into overtime to lift the Prince George Cougars to a 3-2 road victory Saturday over the Red Deer Rebels.
Witala's team-high 28th goal was the first overtime winner in his three-year WHL career. He was set up on the play by linemates Zach Pochiro and Jansen Harkins.
Kody McDonald and Pochiro each scored in the second period for the Cougars, who have a 6-0-0-0 record in games in which McDonald scores.
Jeff de Wit opened the scoring for Red Deer with the only goal of the first period and Brooks Maxwell tied it for the Rebels on a power play early in the third period.
The Cougars went 1-for-6 with the man advantage, while the Rebels were 1-for-4.
Tavin Grant, a 16-year-old rookie, made 40 saves in the Cougar nets to earn his third WHL victory. All have come on the road. The Cougars managed 26 shots at Rebels goalie Taz Burman.
The win moved the Cougars (23-32-2-2) into a temporary tie for third place in the B.C. Division with the Kamloops Blazers, who were trailing the Victoria Royals 2-1 after two periods Saturday in Victoria. Red Deer (28-18-4-5) remained fifth overall in the Eastern Conference.
The Cougars, who now have at least a point in five of their last six games, will play Monday afternoon (1 p.m. PT) in Edmonton against the Oil Kings.
