HARTLEY’S SPORTS SHORTS: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14TH

(As of 12:01 a.m.) by Hartley Miller

WHL: (PG Cougars)

Victoria Royals  3  Prince George Cougars  2  (SO)

The Royals erased a 2-0 deficit after two periods to beat the Cougars for the 10th consecutive time, including five this season.

Gary Haden scored two third period goals, including the equalizer with the goalie pulled and just 1:07 left on the clock.

Tarun Fizer tallied the only goal in the shootout before 2,079 fans at CN Centre.

It was the second time Fizer has notched the shootout winner against PG.

Reid Perepeluk and Ethan Browne scored for the Cougars, who outshot the Royals 42-34.

Ethan Browne scored in his return to the line up but it was the Cougars coming up short in the shootout against Victoria Friday.#NorthernUprising #WHL

RECAP ➡️ https://t.co/4OzurMllfr
? Brett Cullen Photo pic.twitter.com/yb1BtneRPQ

— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) December 14, 2019

Shane Farkas picked up the win with 40 saves while Taylor Gauthier took the loss with 32 saves, five of them in overtime.

FINAL: @victoriaroyals (3) at @PGCougars (2) — SO

STATS ? | https://t.co/VDbScBGeMH#PGvsVIC pic.twitter.com/lIrsBQ44bP

— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 14, 2019

All five Victoria wins in 2019-20 against Prince George have been by one goal, with three of them decided in a shootout.

The (16-9-2) Royals and Cougars meet again tonight, in the Teddy Bear & Toque Toss game.

The last time Prince George beat Victoria was on December 2nd, 2018, which was the last Teddy Bear Toss game at CN Centre.

The (6-20-1-3) Cougars have lost six straight, scoring just nine goals over that stretch.

The Cougars are 11 points behind the (12-13-2-1) Tri-City Americans for the last Western Conference wild-card spot.

#WHLScores

MJ 1 BDN 11
KEL 3 REG 4
KAM 5 SAS 2
WPG 1 PA 3
SC 1 EDM 5
MH 4 RD 6
VIC 3 PG 2 (SO)
EVT 2 POR 3 (OT)
TC 1 SEA 5

? https://t.co/NHRTK8ru9s ?

— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 14, 2019

The PG Cougars schedule/results right here.

The WHL standings are right here.

BCHL: (PG Spruce Kings)

Coquitlam Express  4  Prince George Spruce Kings  2

The Spruce Kings suffered their fourth consecutive loss, all on home ice before 1,276 fans.

.@SpruceKings forward Fin Williams chats post game with @mypgnow after 4-2 loss to @BCHLExpress in @GoBCHL action #CityofPG #sports #GetInTheMix pic.twitter.com/JStdBfjdrX

— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) December 14, 2019

Mason Waite and Nolan Welsch scored for the Spruce Kings, who were outshot 33-22.

Former PG Cougar Ethan O’Rourke picked up two assists for the (29-5) league-leading Express.

Former @PGCougars @WHLsilvertips @cariboocougars @ethanorourke33 speaks with @mypgnow after @BCHLExpress defeat @SpruceKings 4-2 in @GoBCHL on Friday #CityofPG #sports pic.twitter.com/2OeThSXPIN

— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) December 14, 2019

The same teams meet again tonight at the RMCA in the Spruce Kings final home game in 2019.

The (11-19-2-3) Spruce Kings are last in the Mainland Division, four points behind the (13-16-2-3) Surrey Eagles and seven points back of the (16-15-0-1-1) Langley Rivermen.

The Spruce Kings 2019-20 schedule/results right here.

YES! Congrats to @goaliejett for being the first ever Shaw BCHL Community Hero Award winner!

Great stuff, Jett!#GetInTheMix | #BCHL https://t.co/RZ7E8Uvlaz

— Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) December 12, 2019

NHL: (2 Friday games)

Vegas  3  Dallas  2  (OT)
Colorado  3  New Jersey  1

Amid trade speculation, the Devils scratched Taylor Hall just prior to the game.

The (16-12-4) Vancouver Canucks visit San Jose tonight at 7:00 and Vegas Sunday night at 5:00 before hosting Montreal Tuesday night at 7:00.

The Sharks have lost six straight.

Vancouver is 5th in the Pacific Division, three points behind (17-13-5) Vegas for the last wild-card spot, although the Canucks have three games in hand on the Golden Knights.

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The Calgary Flames put their seven-game win streak under interim head coach Geoff Ward on the line when they host the Carolina Hurricanes this afternoon at 1:00 (PT).

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