Eight different players scored as the Kelowna Rockets scored their sixth straight win on Saturday night.
Leading scorer Myles Bell and Tyson Baillie both enjoyed three-point performances, with a goal and two assists each, to pace the latest victory - an 8-4 blowout of the host Prince George Cougars.
Unlike in Friday's opener, where Kelowna got off to a slow start in a scoreless first period and twice trailed the Cougars before rallying for a 4-2 win, Saturday's rematch was all Rockets from start to finish. The visitors led 2-0 and 8-3 at the breaks, including a 6-0 advantage midway through the middle frame before Prince George finally got on the board.
"Up until about 6-0, I thought we were much better," said Rockets head coach Ryan Huska. "We were harder on our chances, for sure."
Tyrell Goulbourne, Zach Franko, J.T. Barnett, Justin Kirkland, Colton Sissons and Jesse Lees also scored for the Rockets (29-10-1-1), who pulled even with the idle Kamloops Blazers (28-10-2-2) for first place in the B.C. Division standings.
Kelowna still holds a game in hand on Kamloops and thus took over the Western Conference's second seed behind the top-ranked Portland Winterhawks (33-5-1-0).
"It's a nice feeling," Huska said. "We've worked hard to get ourselves to that point and now I think the greater challenge begins. It's a matter of us having to work harder now in order to try to stay where we're at."
The Cougars (12-22-1-4), meanwhile, bring up the rear - fourth in B.C. and ninth in the West, five points out of the final playoff spot.
At Prince George, Sissons' goal was his fourth in as many games since returning from a suspected concussion, while Kirkland netted his first career WHL goal and Bell tallied his team-leading 26th of the season.
Jordon Cooke made 19 saves for his 13th win in a row dating to Nov. 23.
It's streaks aplenty for the Rockets, who will next shoot for their 16th consecutive home win on Wednesday when Kelowna hosts the Victoria Royals (20-15-1-2) in a 7 p.m. puck-drop at Prospera Place.
"It's a game where we're going to have to be prepared to play with more tempo than we had this weekend," said Huska, whose club beat Victoria 4-2 this past Wednesday in a tough, physical game, also at Prospera Place. The two teams also meet Jan. 31 at Kelowna.
"They're a team that plays physical against us and we have to make sure we're prepared for that and really do a good job of trying to keep the game 5-on-5 as much as possible."