For the next five days, the Prince George Cougars might think they've stepped into a war zone.
They know for sure they're going to draw some serious Rocket fire.
The WHL-leading Kelowna Rockets are in town tonight and Saturday to face the Cougars, then return to Kelowna for a Tuesday date with the Cats.
Sporting a 47-8-0-4 record, the Rockets have been breathing rare air atop the league standings ever since the season began. They've earned 98 points this season, 40 more than the Cougars (25-30-3-5), who need at least two more points to pull themselves into a playoff position.
Cougars head coach Mark Holick knows there no easy way to top a team that's lost only eight games in regulation time. It would be nothing short of miracle to beat Kelowna three times in succession. The teams last met Feb. 14 in Kelowna, a game that ended in a 4-2 Cougars' loss.
"I was happy with our effort, we played very well in a rink that's not easy to play in and I thought we deserved better," said Holick. "We've played Kelowna tough all year long and hopefully we'll give them another go Friday and Saturday. We're not surrendering anything."
The Rockets sport the league's second-best defence, averaging just 2.55 goals allowed each game. A big reason for that is the play of defencemen Damon Severson (drafted by New Jersey, second round, 2012), Madison Bowey (Washington, second round, 2013) and Mitchell Wheaton (Philadelphia, second round, 2013). They've also got plenty of firepower with the likes of forwards Myles Bell (New Jersey, sixth round, 2013), Ryan Olsen (Winnipeg, sixth round, 2012) and Tyrell Goulbourne (Philadelphia, third round, 2013).
"They don't like to trade chances, they've got four pretty even solid lines," said Holick. "Olsen and Bell are big bodies and they create a lot of chances down low and some of our younger D got caught out against them in a visiting rink."
The Cougars ended a four-game trip on Tuesday with a 5-1 loss in Portland, their third loss to the U.S. Division-leading Winterhawks in nine days. The Portland power play, best in the league, went 3-for-7.
"I think the score wasn't indicative of the play," said Holick. "We gave up a power-play goal at the end of the first. We had a bit of miscue in the second and they scored with four seconds left, we weren't aware of our assignment behind us and it ended up in the back of our net. Then we had two or three really good chances and [Hawks goalie Corbin] Boes came up big, and then they came back and got the third goal and that was the backbreaker for us."
After consecutive home ice losses to Portland which ended a six-game winning streak, the Cougars started their last trip with a 4-2 loss in Kelowna, picked up a point in a 4-3 overtime loss in Kamloops, then came back from a three-goal deficit to beat Seattle 6-4.
The Cougars have nine games left, seven at home and two on the road. They'll be watching the out-of-town scoreboard all weekend. The Americans, who have three games in hand over the Cougars, host Prince Albert and Everett the next two nights. Despite a losing record, Holick says the Cougars are playing some of their best hockey of the season right now.
"I like where our game's at, I think our effort has been outstanding," said Holick.
The Cougars are down to nine forwards, at least one line short of a full deck, and it's been that way for what seems like an eternity. F Brett Roulston was added to that list Feb. 10 when he suffered an upper-body injury in the first game against Portland. He joins forwards Chase Witala (back), Alex Forsberg (concussion), David Soltes (knee), Jari Erricson (concussion) on the sidelines. None of them will see the ice this weekend. G Brett Zarowny (groin) is also not available.
The good news for the Cougars is 20-year-old D Peter Kosterman has been cleared to play after missing 25 games with a broken jaw. The Rockets will be without their second-leading scorer, F Tyson Baillie (leg injury, out 4-5 weeks) and D Jesse Lees (lower body, day-to-day).
