
Cougars End Road Swing with Loss
January 10, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release
SPOKANE, WA- The Prince George Cougars had their two-game win streak come to end Wednesday, as they fell to the Spokane Chiefs 4-2 at Spokane Arena.
Wednesday marked the end of 11-straight road games for the Cougars and fatigue may had its grips on the team early. Spokane scored twice on the power-play in the first period to lead 2-0 after 20-minutes.
Prince George clawed back in the second, as Joel Lakusta scored 31-seconds into the frame to cut the deficit to one. That score held up until midway through the third period, when the Chiefs restored their two-goal lead, courtesy of a Luc Smith goal. However, the Cougars fought back, this time late in the third period.
With the goalie pulled, Josh Maser made it a 3-2 game with 70-seconds left on the clock, jamming in a rebound at the top of the crease. But the Chiefs managed to hang on, as Jake McGrew scored an empty-net goal in the dying seconds.
The Cougars had a couple of great opportunities to tie the game in the second period. With the score 2-1, Vladislav Mikhalchuk was stopped on a breakaway and Matéj Toman missed an open net, after out-racing the Chiefs' goaltender Reece Klassen to a puck at the Spokane blue-line.
Spokane hasn't been kind to the Cougars, as they've lost four-straight at Spokane Arena dating back to March 11th, 2017. Despite the loss on Wednesday, the Cougars finished the road trip with four out of a possible six points.
SCORING SUMMARY
First Period
Chiefs [1-0] Nolan Reid (6) from Filip Kral and Luke Toporowski (power-play) 4:23
Chiefs [2-0] Ty Smith (4) from Jaret Anderson-Dolan (power-play) 13:43
Second Period
Cougars [2-1] Joel Lakusta (5) from Jackson Leppard and Austin Crossley :31
Third Period
Chiefs [3-1] Luc Smith (17) from Eli Zummack and Ethan McIndoe 12:56
Cougars [3-2] Josh Maser (13) from Joel Lakusta and Jackson Leppard 18:50
Chiefs [4-2] Jake McGrew (17) from Adam Beckman and Ty Smith (empty-net) 19:48
GOALTENDING
Cougars- Taylor Gauthier (Loss) 23/26 57:58
Chiefs- Reece Klassen (win) 15/17 60:00
POWER-PLAY
Cougars- 0/2
Chiefs- 2/2
UP NEXT: The Cougars (14-22-1-2) finally return home, as they get set for a weekend double-header against the Kelowna Rockets (17-19-3-1) at the CN Centre, starting Friday. It's the Cougars first games at home in six weeks. Saturday night is Four Rivers Co-op "Country Night." Tickets for both games are available at the TicketsNorth box office, or online at www.ticketsnorth.ca.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2019
- Silvertips Acquire Forward Robbie Holmes from the Regina Pats - Everett Silvertips
- Chiefs Trim to Seven Defensemen as Ladyman Reassigned - Spokane Chiefs
- Broncos Deal Zawatsky to Warriors for Smithies, Picks - Swift Current Broncos
- Rockets Prep for Pair with Prince George - Kelowna Rockets
- Rockets make moves on trade deadline day - Kelowna Rockets
- Wheat Kings Deal Hartje to Ice - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Pats Acquire Prospect Sloan Stanick, Two Picks from Everett for Robbie Holmes - Regina Pats
- Prospect Draffin Traded to Vancouver - Red Deer Rebels
- Trade Deadline Quiet for Rebels - Red Deer Rebels
- ICE Acquire '99-Born Defenceman Chase Hartje from the Wheat Kings - Kootenay Ice
- Warriors Acquire Zawatsky - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Giants Acquire 2001-Born Defenceman Nicholas Draffin from Red Deer - Vancouver Giants
- Sasha Mutala to Play for Team Orr at 2019 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game - Tri-City Americans
- Tigers Swap Williams for Kemp - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Oil Kings and Tigers Announce Trade - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Blades Acquire Veteran Sniper from Portland - Saskatoon Blades
- Warriors Acquire Denomie - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Blazers Acquire Draft Pick from Moose Jaw for Carson Denomie - Kamloops Blazers
- Hawks Acquire Paterson from Saskatoon - Portland Winterhawks
- Be a Superhero Is the Theme for the Annual Pink the Rink Game Presented by Western Financial Group - Kootenay Ice
- Americans Acquire Huo from Thunderbirds - Tri-City Americans
- Video Game Night Friday - Saskatoon Blades
- Raiders Acquire Bilous from Oil Kings - Prince Albert Raiders
- Oil Kings and Raiders Announce Trade - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Broncos Capped by Rebels 3-2 - Swift Current Broncos
- Americans to Host CH2M Military Appreciation Night on January 18 - Tri-City Americans
- Rebels Start Road Trip with a 3-2 Win in Swift Current - Red Deer Rebels
- Chiefs Sign Forward Kaden Hanas to WHL Agreement - Spokane Chiefs
- Raiders Add Schaufler from Thunderbirds - Prince Albert Raiders
- 'Canes Score Late Goal, Drop ICE 3-2 - Kootenay Ice
- ICE Acquire '00-Born Defenceman Brenden Kwiatkowski from Warriors - Kootenay Ice
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland at Regina - Game #41 - Portland Winterhawks
- Introducing the Wheat Kings Recycle Rally Contest - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Regina Exhibition Association Limited and Regina Pats Extend Their Partnership Agreement - Regina Pats
- Raiders Acquire Bader from Calgary - Prince Albert Raiders
- Hitmen Acquire the Rights to Quinn Olson from the Prince Albert Raiders - Calgary Hitmen
- Royals Douse Blazers - Victoria Royals
- Cougars End Road Swing with Loss - Prince George Cougars
- Silvertips Pull away in Third - Everett Silvertips
- Rockets Doubled up by Silvertips - Kelowna Rockets
- Spokane Opens Homestand with 4-2 Win - Spokane Chiefs
- Raiders Fall At Home To Thunderbirds - Prince Albert Raiders
- Kaluski Hat Trick Kicks Number One Ranked Prince Albert to the Curb - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Hitmen Tip Warriors in Shootout - Calgary Hitmen
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