The Prince George Cougars are headed back north and the Portland Winterhawks will be following them. The Winterhawks missed out on clinching the Western Hockey League first-round playoff series at home with a 7-2 loss to the Cougars in Game 5 on Friday at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The series, which Portland leads 3-2, returns to CN Centre in Prince George, B.C., for Game 6 on Sunday, and if necessary, a Game 7 on Monday. Following a thrilling double-overtime victory on Wednesday to get within a victory of clinching the series, the Winterhawks found themselves down 2-0 in the first 15 minutes of the opening period and then down 4-1 just seconds into the third period. The Cougars tacked on three more goals over the last 12 minutes of regulation.

Portland defenseman Ryder Thompson scored his first goal of the playoffs with 4:56 remaining in the first period to make it a 2-1 game before Prince George put the game away. Right winger Alex Weiermair had a goal and assisted on Thompson’s goal, and Ryan Miller had two assists for the Winterhawks. Prince George left winger Matteo Danis earned the game’s first star with a two-goal night. Los Angeles Kings prospect Koehn Ziemmer also scored twice for the Cougars. Up next The teams take a 733-mile bus ride north to Prince George for at least one more game, possibly two, to decide the series. Game 6 on Sunday has a 6 p.m. puck drop. If necessary, Game 7 on Monday has a 7 p.m. start time. Both games can be watched for free on the Victory+ app.