The Prince George Cougars defeated the Kelowna Rockets 4-1 on Friday night at the CN Centre in Prince George in the first of two games between the WHL rivals this weekend.
Rockets forward Jake Kryski opened the scoring with his second goal of the season but a late second period goal by the Cougars tied the game through the first period.
The Cougars scored once in the second and added two more in the third to take the 4-1 win.
The Rockets fell into penalty trouble, allowing three power play goals on 10 chances, while going 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
Michael Herringer made 40 saves in a losing cause.
Defenceman Lucas Johansen and forward Calvin Thurkauf both returned to the Rockets lineup after being reassigned by their respective NHL teams.
Thurkauf later left the game with an injury.
Kelowna’s record falls to 1-3-0-0 on the season after what was the second of three straight games between the two teams.
They will meet again on Saturday in Prince George.
The Rockets won’t return to Prospera Place until Oct. 14 when they host Saskatoon.