WHL Tri-City Americans

Americans Tame Cougars 5-2

Published on January 4, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


PRINCE GEORGE, BC - Different night, same result.

Mitch Fadden and Jordan Messier each recorded goals for the second straight night and the visiting Tri-City Americans (27-10-0-2, 56 pts) again used five different skaters to run past the Prince George Cougars (14-26-0-1, 29 pts) 5-2 in front of 2,144 fans at the CN Centre in British Columbia. The win was the third straight for the Americans, while the Cougars dropped their fifth consecutive game. Tri-City has now won 11 of their last 12 games against the Cougars.

Tri-City dominated the shots in the first period, outshooting the Cougars 14 to 3 through the first 20 minutes of play. Then, at 12:19 of the period as part of a 3-on-2 chance, Taylor Procyshen buried his 22nd goal of the season on Cougars' netminder, Joe Caligiuri. Procyshen, who now has seven goals in his last five games, gave Tri-City a 1-0 lead headed into the first break.

Just 4:55 into the second period, Cam Stevens beat Caligiuri with a wrist shot from the right circle, making it 2-0, while notching just his second goal of his WHL career and first since joining the Americans. Then, six minutes later and on the power play, Tyler Schmidt netted his fourth goal of the season, putting Tri-City on top 3-0.

With 6:18 remaining in the second, the Cougars finally got on the board after Dallas Jackson beat Tri-City goaltender Drew Owsley, high on the blocker side, pulling Prince George to within two, at 3-1. But, a minute and a half later, Fadden responded with his 11th goal of the season, as the Americans took a 4-1 lead into the second intermission.

Only 1:54 into the third period and on the power play, the Cougars' Parker Stanfield made it a two-goal game, but Prince George would get no closer. Then, with 12:40 remaining in regulation, Messier capped the scoring in the contest with a backhander. Tri-City finished the night with a 37 to 16 shot advantage in the contest and outshot the Cougars 81 to 32 in the doubleheader.

Caligiuri and Joel Danyluk, who relieved Caligiuri in the third period, combined for 32 saves in the loss. Meanwhile, Owsley stopped 14 of the 16 shots he faced in picking-up his sixth win of the season. Tri-City went 1-for-7 on the power play, while the Cougars were 1-for-3 on the man-advantage.

After a long bus ride home, the Americans will get some time off before they return to the ice this Wednesday, January 7 against the Everett Silvertips. Game time is 7:05 p.m. at Comcast Arena in Everett. The Americans are 3-1 against the 'Tips this season and are 1-1 at Comcast Arena. So far this season, three of the four contests between the clubs have been decided by just one goal. The game will be broadcast live, via WHL WebTV, at the Americans' home away from home, Kimo's Sports Café and R.F. McDougall's in Richland, starting at 7:00 p.m. Fans can also catch all the action live on NewsTalk 870 AM, starting with the Sterling Savings Bank Warm-up Show at 6:45 p.m.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 4, 2009


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