PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — Chase Wheatcroft's goal at 2:31 of overtime lifted the Prince George Cougars to a 5-4 victory over the visiting Tri-City Americans on Sunday night and into the second round of the Western Hockey League playoffs.
The Cougars, who beat the Americans 4-2 in the first-round, best-of-seven series, will now face the top-seeded Seattle Thunderbirds, who swept the Kelowna Rockets.
Riley Heidt, Cole Dubinsky, Fischer O'Brien and Zac Funk also scored for the Cougars, who were outshot 38-37. Caden Brown and Heidt each chipped in with two assists.
Reese Belton, Ethan Ernst, Tyson Greenway and Jake Sloan scored for the Americans, who trailed 3-1 after the first period, but went into the third tied 3-3.
The Cougars won Game 2 of the punishing series 2-1 in overtime after the visiting Americans won the opener 6-4.
POKE CHECKS: Connor Bedard and the Regina Pats are aiming to upset the favoured Blades when they square off in Game 7 on Monday night in Saskatoon, Sask. The Blades finished the WHL regular season with 101 points — 29 more than the Pats. Regina recorded 34 regular-season wins, while Saskatoon compiled 48. There have been three overtime games in the series and the only blowout occurred in Game 1 when the Pats pounded the host Blades 6-1. Bedard, expected to be the No. 1 pick in this summer's NHL entry draft, has 11 goals and eight assists in the first six games.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 9, 2023.
The Canadian Press
