Regina 4 Prince George 1
Taylor Gauthier did everything he could do in order to keep the Prince George Cougars (18-26-4-4) in this one. He faced 24 shots in the first period against the homesteading Regina Pats (26-22-5-0) and 25 in the second. That is 49 shots over 40 minutes of play. He gave up three goals on those 49 shots and would go on to stop 56 of 60.
Unfortunately, partially due to a major penalty and five minute power play granted after a hit by the Cougars Vladislav Mikhalchuk, the Pays owned the possession as the shot total makes obvious.
Jess Gabrielle opened the scoring just over a minute in on the power play. Nick Henry found Gabrielle in the slot and the overage sniper buried his seventh of the season.
Jared Bethune then tied the game while short handed later in the first.
In the second period Sam Steel and Matt Bradley solved Gauthier to make the score 3-1, before Cam Hebig added a short handed marker for some more insurance in the third.
Max Paddock stopped 29 of 30 in the Pats win.
The Pats, who now sit four points behind Brandon for third in the East Division next play Saturday against Prince Albert. The Cougars, who have dropped all four games on their East Division swing, play in Brandon Friday.
Kamloops 3 Medicine Hat 1
Final time head-to-head pic.twitter.com/3D8njgzK1Y
— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) February 1, 2018
Someone forgot to tell the Kamloops Blazers (24-24-1-2) that since they traded away two important players at the trade deadline, they were supposed to be far from the playoffs and mired in a losing streak. Instead they have won six of their last seven and have closed to within six points of the playoffs. 
Their latest win was a 3-1 at home vs the Medicine Hat Tigers (26-21-6-0).
Jermaine Loewen led the way offensively with a goal and an assist. His marker in this one came in a way that is becoming unfortunately common for the Blazers WHL opponents. He went to the net=-front and when David Quenneville was forced to check him, he bumped into goalie Michael Bullion. He then used his size to get back into place and tip home a shot by Montanan Onyrbuchi.
His goal made it 3-1 and gave the Blazers some needed insurance.
Luc Smith opened the scoring in the first period with his 16th of the year.
Elijah Brown then tied things up with his first goal for the Tigers since being acquired from the Seattle Thunderbirds at the trade deadline. His last WHL goal was September 23rd. This one came on the power play.
After Luke Zazula netted a power play marker to give the Blazers the lead back in the third, Loewen gave them a two-goal advantage.
Dylan Ferguson stopped 36 of 37 for Kamloops, while Bullion turned away 32 of 35.
Kamloops hosts the Calgary Hitmen on Saturday, while Medicine Hat heads to Victoria on Friday.
