The Prince George Cougars’ brief two-game winning streak came to an abrupt end Saturday night (Feb. 9) in Vancouver.
After sweeping the Seattle Thunderbirds on home ice to close out a 4-2 extended homestand, the Cats had a hard time trying to solve Giants goaltender Trent Miner at the Langley Events Centre.
The 5-2 final keeps the Cats seven points behind the T-Birds for the second and final wild-card playoff spot; Seattle also lost their contest by a score of 5-2 against Everett.
Taylor Gauthier made 29 saves on 34 shots for Prince George in his 39th start of the season.
The Giants scored the first two goals of the night coming at 5:21 and 12:42 of the opening frame, but Cougars’ Mitch Kohner cut the lead to 2-1 before the intermission break.
The American-import won the race for the puck off a hail mary pass from Jack Sander and put the puck between the legs of Miner for his seventh of the 2019-20 season.
Cole Moberg was credited with the second assist to Kohner’s marker.
Vancouver regained their earlier one-goal advantage 13 minutes into the second period; Prince George answered nearly three minutes later.
Vladislav Mikhalchuk also got his seventh of the year on a power-play by firing a one-knee, one-timer from the point and again through Miner’s five-hole.
He now has seven points in his last five games, including four goals.
Ilijah Colina waited patiently to give his Belarussian teammate that opportunity after taking a first pass from Ryan Schoettler.
The 3-2 deficit was carried into the final frame until the home side kicked their offense into another gear.
The G-men scored two more within a span of 3:05, their fifth one coming on a power-play, handing Prince George the 5-2 loss in their 50th game of the season.
The Cougars’ record goes down to 17-26-3-4 and are now 5-5 in their last 10 games.
A critical test awaits Prince George tonight (Feb. 9), 5:05 p.m. in Seattle against the Thunderbirds and a win would bring them mathematically closer to a playoff position.
