The Prince George Cougars scored three third-period goals on their way to winning for the first time this Western Hockey League season.
The Cougars, who started the schedule with a shootout loss and a regulation loss in Victoria last weekend, beat the host Kelowna Rockets 4-2 on Wednesday night. The Cats broke open a 1-1 game with third-period markers by Mike MacLean, Vladislav Mikhalchuk and Ilijah Colina. Mikhalchuk's goal came at the 16:27 mark after Kelowna's Leif Mattson had tied the score 2-2 exactly one minute earlier. Colina gave the Cougars some insurance at 18:18.
Prince George's Ryan Schoettler - on a power play - scored the only goal of the first period and Kelowna's Lassi Thomson struck for the only goal of the second.
The Rockets outshot the Cougars 29-24. Special teams were a factor, as the Cats went 1-for-4 with the man advantage and held the Rockets scoreless on seven opportunities.
Taylor Gauthier was the winning goaltender and James Porter was saddled with the loss.
The Cougars improved to 1-1-0-1 and the Rockets dropped to 0-3-0-0.
The teams will meet again on Friday in Prince George, the home-opener for the Cougars. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Cougars and Rockets will also play on Saturday.
