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WHL Prince George Cougars

Cougars Drop Matinee to Rebels

February 17, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release


Prince George Cougars right wing Vladislav Mikhalchuk vs. the Red Deer Rebels
Prince George Cougars right wing Vladislav Mikhalchuk vs. the Red Deer Rebels
(Prince George Cougars, Credit: James Doyle)

PRINCE GEORGE, BC- The Prince George Cougars fell short against the Red Deer Rebels, losing 4-2 in their Family Day matinee at the CN Centre Monday.

The Rebels scored the game winner, breaking a 2-2 tie with 4:48 left to play in the second period, as they closed their B.C. Division road trip with back-to-back wins. The loss was the Cougars fourth straight, as they sit nine points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference with 15 games remaining.

Jonny Hooker and Ethan Browne scored for Prince George and Taylor Gauthier surrendered four goals on 27 shots in the Cougars' crease. Vladislav Mikhalchuk had two assists Monday and was the second star.

Josh Tarzwell, Ethan Rowland, Chris Douglas, and Jayden Grubbe scored for the Rebels. Byron Fancy stopped 32 shots and was named the third star.

The large Family Day crowd was treated to a dominant first period from the home team, but despite the strong start from Prince George, it was Red Deer who opened the scoring. Tarzwell made it 1-0 Red Deer after he was set up by Jaxsen Wiebe at the side of the net at 10:39.

The Rebels' lead would prove to be temporary as Jonny Hooker, after hitting the post earlier in the same shift, scored from a sharp angle off goaltender Fancy's shoulder to tie it 1-1 67-seconds after Red Deer went ahead; it was Hooker's first goal since February 1st. Prince George outshot Red Deer 15-5 in the first period.

The Cougars carried that momentum into the second period. Just after a successful penalty-kill, Ethan Browne cashed in on a rebound in front of the Rebels net, scoring at 7:37 to make it 2-1. Browne scoring after Mikhalchuk fired a hard shot from the left wing that kicked off the goalie's pad and right to him; Browne's first goal in three games.

The game turned back in the Rebels favour after the second period media timeout. Red Deer scored two goals in the final nine minutes of the middle frame to take a 3-2 lead into the intermission.

First, Red Deer's Dallon Melin had a scoring chance on a breakaway but was held up on the play. Ethan Rowland was right there to pick up the loose puck and he tapped it in at 12:31. Then, the Rebels took the lead back with less than five-minutes left in the period. Chris Douglas, despite being on his knees, shoveled in a rebound on his backhand through the goalie's pads to make it 3-2 at 15:12.

Trailing by a goal heading into the third period, the Cougars weren't able to manufacture an equalizer. The Cougars pulled Gauthier in favour of an extra skater with over two minutes to play as they pressed, but the Rebel's Jayden Grubbe put the game out of reach with an empty-net goal at 17:55.

Game Notes: Mikhalchuk's two assists on the afternoon, were his ninth and tenth points in his last eight games. The Thunderbirds also dropped their family day contest, 3-2 to the Vancouver Giants, therefor the Cougars remain nine points back of the final wildcard spot in the Western Conference.

Next Up: The Cougars (16-30-3-4) hit the road for a U.S Division swing, as they visit the Everett Silvertips and Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday and Sunday respectively.

Boxscore

Power-Play

Cougars - 0/2

Rebels - 0/2

Shots

Cougars - 34

Rebels - 27

Three Stars: 1) Ethan Sakowich 2) Vladislav Mikhalchuk 3) Byron Fancy

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Images from this story

Prince George Cougars right wing Vladislav Mikhalchuk vs. the Red Deer Rebels
Prince George Cougars right wing Vladislav Mikhalchuk vs. the Red Deer Rebels
(James Doyle)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from February 17, 2020


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