Todd Fiddler and the Prince George
Cougars will try to extend their four-game winning streak tonight (7 p.m.) when they host the Red Deer Rebels in the first of a two-game weekend set at CN Centre.
Fiddler's magic hands accounted for five goals and eight assists as the Cougars won the last four games of a six-game road trip through the WHL's East Division.
"Fighting for that playoff spot, our goal was to go 4-2 on the road trip and it was good to get wins in those barns in Prince Albert and Moose Jaw," said Fiddler. "I was a rookie in P.A. for a year-and-a-half and had so much fun. I still know a few of those guys there and I'm sure I'll look back on it and be thrilled the way it went, and the same in Moose Jaw."
The Cougars' longest trip of the season started with an embarrassing 8-0 loss in Regina, followed by a 6-3 defeat in Brandon. Then they reeled off wins in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw and Swift Current.
Fiddler was traded to Prince George from Moose Jaw Nov. 4 for a conditional fifth-round draft pick after picking up two goals and 10 points in 14 games with the Warriors. Ever since he started wearing a Cougar jersey he's been deadly, collecting 30 more goals and 59 more points to move into seventh place among the WHL's top scorers. Utilizing one of the hardest and most accurate shots in the league, Fiddler fired 16 goals and picked up 29 points in 14 games in January, drawing WHL player-of-the-month honours and the increased scrutiny of pro scouts.
With 17 games left in the season, the Cougars are going to have to win most of those games and they'll also need the two teams that are still within reach - Tri-City and Everett - to lose a few.
The Rebels (27-23-1-30) hold down the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference but they're only two points out of fifth. The Cougars (22-26-2-5) are in the Western Conference playoff race, six points behind eighth-place Tri-City and nine behind seventh-place Everett.
"Everett is 2-7-1-0 in their last 10, so we've gained a few points there, and with Tri-City we were 12 back but now we're six," said Cougars head coach Mark Holick. "They've got games in hand but that doesn't mean anything if you don't win them."
The Brent Sutter-coached Rebels are 5-3-1-1 in their last 10 games and they're coming off a 4-3 loss Wednesday night in Kelowna. In their only other meeting this season, Nov. 23 in Red Deer, the Rebels spanked the Cats 5-1.
The Cougars still have some key players out of the lineup. Forwards Alex Forsberg (concussion) and Chase Witala (back), and defenceman Peter Kosterman (broken jaw) resumed skating this week but won't play this weekend. Defenceman Martin Bobos (upper body) and goalie Brett Zarowny (groin) are close to being ready. Forwards Jari Erricson (concussion) and David Soltes (knee) are out indefinitely. The Rebels expect to be without injured forwards Wyatt Johnson (upper body) and Lucas Sutter (upper body).
Following the Red Deer series, the Cats have a day off before they take on the Portland Winterhawks on Family Day, Monday afternoon at 2 p.m.
