Cougars Fall Short in Thrilling Contest in Portland
Published on January 7, 2024 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release
PORTLAND, OR - In a heart-pounding contest at the Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, the Prince George Cougars dropped a 4-3 decision to the Portland Winterhawks in a nail-biting battle.
The first period set the tone for the evening with an early scuffle between Nicholas McLennan and Kyle McDonaugh. Shortly after, Arjun Bawa was awarded a penalty shot, but Winterhawks' goaltender Nick Avakyan denied the attempt. The spirited stanza saw Portland take the lead with Josh Davies notching the first goal at 15:02. The Cougars responded swiftly, with Zac Funk scoring his league-leading 41st goal of the season at 16:04, levelling the score at 1-1. The first period concluded with the game tied, and the Cougars outshooting Portland 16-12.
Prince George seized their first lead of the game in the second period when Carlin Dezainde found the back of the net off a pass from Zac Funk, making it 2-1 in favour of the Cats. The Winterhawks responded with a power-play goal from Gabe Klassen, knotting the game at 2-2 at 7:15. Despite the Winterhawks' equalizer, Prince George maintained their lead in shots, outshooting Portland 15-8.
The final frame was a spectacle of tremendous action on both sides. Portland capitalized on a 5 on 3 power play, with James Stefan scoring at 4:11, giving the Winterhawks a 3-2 lead. The Cougars fought back at 5 on 5, as Borya Valis tipped in a Chase Pauls shot, marking Valis's first goal as a Cougar at 11:01. In a tense closing minute, the Winterhawks secured the victory with a late go-ahead goal from Josh Davies, earning his second of the game at 19:00.
The Prince George Cougars now conclude their five-game road swing in Everett on Sunday at 4:05 pm, aiming for a strong rebound after the intense battle in Portland.
FINAL SCORE:
PG 3 POR 4
FINAL SHOTS:
PG 40 POR 28
POWER-PLAYS:
PG: 0-4 POR: 3-7
GOALTENDERS:
PG: Josh Ravensbergen (60:00 - 24/28)
POR: Nick Avakyan (60:00 - 36/39)
3 STARS:
1.POR: James Stefan (1-3-4)
2.POR: Josh Davies (2-0-2)
3.POR: Nick Avakyan (36 Saves)
POST GAME INTERVIEW WITH ASSOCIATE COACH JIM PLAYFAIR
https://media.chl.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/46/2024/01/07050612/Jim-Playfair-Interview-jan-7.mp3
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