Tuesday night (Feb. 4) was a rollercoaster ride the Prince George Cougars would both like to forget and remember forever.
After coming out of the gate fast, the team found themselves in penalty troubles in the second period, which led to two power-play goals and an eventual lead for Seattle.
However, the Cougars were able to pull out every last arrow in their quiver to strike at opportune times and propel themselves to a much-needed 6-4 victory at the CN Centre.
.@PGCougars had a 2nd-period scare that included a cascade of penalties, but scored 3 goals in final frame to win 6-4 over Seattle 🚨 Taylor Gauthier made 36 saves, while Ethan Browne nabbed 3 points to help team earn 2 (very) critical points | #CityOfPG @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/htMva3sFnu
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) February 5, 2020
Even with the win, the Thunderbirds are holding on to the final playoff spot in the WHL’s Western Conference at 45 points, ahead of Prince George by eight in the standings.
The Cats claimed the win thanks to Ethan Browne’s three-point performance, which included the game-winning goal with three minutes remaining in regulation.
This was the 18-year-old’s seventh multi-point game of his major junior career and the first of the 2019-20 season, while Tyson Upper, Vladislav Mikhalchuk and Cole Moberg each contributed two points last night.
Goaltender Taylor Gauthier turned away 36 pucks for his 11th win this season, marking the 10th time this year the potential 2020 draft pick has faced at least 40 shots.
He stopped all 12 in the first period, while watching his teammates jumped to a 2-0 lead after the first frame.
Mikhalchuk opened the scoring 3:23 into the contest with his third goal in as many games; he now has six points in the last three, getting help from Upper and Ilijah Colina.
Upper followed suit eight minutes later off a rebound opportunity initially created by Craig Armstrong and a second pass from Marco Creta.
.@PGCougars lead 2-0 after the first period against @SeattleTbirds, but before the intermission break, @cmobes23 & Kelti Jeri-Leon decided who’d leave the ice last in a classic battle of wits... 👊🖐✌️ | #CityOfPG @TheWHL @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/HHLHtCTL2K
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) February 5, 2020
After the intermission and 97 seconds into the next period, Cole Moberg fired a one-timer from the left wing for a power-play goal and a comfortable 3-0 lead.
Ten minutes later, Seattle stopped sleeping and scored three goals in under six minutes to tie it up 3-3 after 40.
Two T-Birds’ lamps were lit while on a man-advantage as Prince George took four straight penalties, including a double-minor for slew-footing.
Seattle got their first lead of the evening 5:18 into the third stanza, stunning the CN Centre crowd with its fourth unanswered goal.
Cougars captain Josh Maser stepped up on a power-play by scoring his team-leading 21st goal of the 2019-20 campaign with assists from Mikhalchuk and Browne.
The 5-4 go-ahead marker was a floater off of Browne’s stick, and helpers from Moberg and Jack Sander, while on a delayed penalty call and getting a deflection off a defenceman’s skate.
Connor Bowie trickled in the empty-net insurance goal with 41 clicks left to seal the 6-4 win.
Prince George has now won three of its last four tilts, all in their home barn, and improve to 15-26-3-4.
They end the six-game homestand and midweek doubleheader tonight (Feb. 5), 7 p.m. against the Thunderbirds.
A win for the Cats would bring them to within three games of a potential playoff spot.
Mood.
— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) February 5, 2020
📸 @BrettCullen_ pic.twitter.com/5lZSdiXc4T
