The Prince George Cougars, a 9-2 shellacking the night before in Spokane still fresh in their minds, thought they’d wiped the slate clean when they stepped onto the ice Saturday in Kennewick, Wash., to face the Tri-City Americans.
But just like their nightmare in Spokane, that red light kept going off behind the Cougars net. A five-goal first period gave the Americans a 5-0 lead to take into the dressing room at the first intermission and they never looked back, winning 6-1 in front of a crowd at 5,406 at the Toyota Center.
And just like in their lopsided loss to the Chiefs Friday in Spokane when a defenceman – Ty Smith – lit up the Cougars for three goals and seven points, Americans defenceman Juuso Valimaki stuck the jackpot at the Cougars’ expense, scoring three goals.
His first of the night, 4:51 into the game, was sandwiched between goals from Jordan Topping and Paycen Bjorklund and that all came within a two-minute 34-second span for an early 3-0 lead. Valima and Parker AuCoin also scored in the first period.
After allowing five goals on 15 shots Cougars goalie Isaiah DiLaura was taken out of the game for the start of the second period and replaced by Tavin Grant, who gave up just one more goal the rest of the game.
Valimaki collected his third of the game, 10:18 into the second period. It was the second career hat trick for the 19-year-old Finn, selected 16th overall in the 2017 NHL draft by the Calgary Flames, now in his third WHL season.
Ryan Schoettler put a shot in off an Americans player to spoil Beck Warm’s shutout late in the second period.
The teams went scoreless in the third period.
The Americans outshot the Cougars 30-20. Neither team scored on its three power-play chances.
The Cougars (20-33-4-4) split the four-game season series with the Americans (32-21-7-1). Each team won two games.
Next up for the Cougars is a doubleheader at CN Centre tonight and Wednesday against the B.C. Division-leading Kelowna Rockets (38-18-4-2), who have won their last three games and have already clinched a playoff spot.
Saturday's WHL summary
Americans 6, Cougars 1
First Period
1. Tri-City, Topping 35 (Rasmussen, Coghlan) 4:11.
2. Tri-City, Valimaki 9 (unassisted) 4:51.
3. Tri-City, Bjorklund 2 (Bishop, Clayton) 6:45.
4. Tri-City, Valmaki 10 (Yaremko, Bishop) 11:41.
5. Tri-City, AuCoin 17 (Johnson, Yaremko) 19:20.
Penalties - Kryski PG, Bouchard TC (major, major-fighting) 3:19.
Second Period
6. Tri-City, Valimaki 11 (Johnson, Bishop) 10:18.
7. Prince George, Schoettler 6 (Lakusta, Mikhalchuk) 17:42.
Penalties - Yaremko T.C, Bethune PG (slashing) 10:18; O'Brien P.G, Johnson T.C (roughing) 10:18; MacPhee P.G. (misconduct, 10-minute misconduct) 10:18; Crossley PG (unsportsmanlike cnd.) 10:30; James TC, Crossley PG (major, major-fighting) 10:30; Schoettler PG (hooking) 11:05; Mutala TC (high sticking) 14:03; Bean TC (hooking) 18:37.
Third Period
No Scoring.
Penalties - Mikhalchuk PG (tripping) 14:25; Clayton TC (high sticking) 18:58.
Shots on goal by
| Prince George | 5 | 10 | 5 | - | 20 |
| Tri-City | 14 | 9 | 7 | - | 30 |
Goal - Prince George: DiLaura (L, 2-3-0-2), Grant (0:00 second, 16 shots, 15 saves). Tri-City: Warm (W, 15-9-1-1).
Power plays (goals-chances) - Prince George: 0-3; Tri-City: 0-3.
Referees - Mike Campbell, Kyle Kowalski. Linesmen - Nick Bilko, Steven Fleming.
Attendance - 5,406 at Tri-Cities, WA.
