Cougars End Road Swing with Loss
Published on January 10, 2019 under 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
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- Prospect Draffin Traded to Vancouver - Red Deer Rebels
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