The Prince George Cougars now know their fate.
For the third straight season, they won't be playing in the Western Hockey League playoffs.
The Tri-City Americans made that official Tuesday night in Portland, Ore., where they took the high-flying Portland Winterhawks to overtime before losing 3-2.
The point gained for the Americans was all they needed to clinch eighth place in the Western Conference. With three games still to play they're now five points ahead of the ninth-place Cougars, who have just two regular season games left.
Brendan Leipsic notched the winner for Portland 30 seconds into overtime. Matt Dumba forced the extra period after Parker Bowles had give the Americans the lead early in the third period on a Tri-City power play.
The Winterhawks outshot the Americans 49-20. Tri-City goalie stopped 46 shots to set a new franchise record for saves in a single season with 1,831.
The Cougars (26-36-3-5) will be in Kamloops on Friday and return to CN Centre Saturday for a rematch against the last-place Blazers (now 13-51-2-3).
