Klarc Wilson did all he could to make his 300th career WHL game memorable.
But Sam McKechnie was there in the end to rain on Wilson's parade. McKechnie lifted a backhand deke high over the outstretched leg of goalie Ty Edmonds to give the Seattle Thunderbirds a 2-1 shootout victory over Wilson's Prince George Cougars Wednesday night at CN Centre.
Down 1-0 with less than eight minutes to play in the third period, Wilson and the Cougars' top scoring line came through in a big way to force overtime. It all happened as a result of face-off win in the Seattle end. Zach Pochiro got the puck back to winger Todd Fiddler and Wilson followed up, scoring on the rebound with a low shot to beat Danny Mumaugh.
Then in overtime, Wilson had a chance to end it. With one minute gone in the extra period, Wilson stripped the puck away to set up a 2-on-1 chance with Troy Bourke and Wilson's shot rang low off the goalpost. It was one save Mumaugh didn't have to make in a masterful 28-save outing.
After combining for an unearthly 16 goals Tuesday, a game that ended in a 9-7 Seattle win, defence was the name of the game in the rematch. Just one shot crossed the line in the first 40 minutes, a high-rising wrister off the stick of T-birds centre Alexander Delnov, a 19-year-old Russian import, who fooled Edmonds from high in the slot, 5:59 into the second period.
It certainly wasn't a case of the Cougars not getting chances. They had seven power plays leading up to Wilson's goal but had nothing to show for it thanks to Mumaugh, 17, back from sick bay after nursing a case of the flu. Just before Wilson knotted the score, Mumaugh stole one away from Zach Gonek, who had picked off a pass up the middle. The Seattle goalie made an even better trapper save to rob Todd Fiddler on a breakaway with five minutes left.
At the opposite end of the ice, Edmonds was a big factor in keeping the Seattle shooters at bay. Making his 16th consecutive start, the 17-year-old was much better positionally than he was the previous night and his rebound control left the T-birds very few second-chance opportunities. With the Cats killing a penalty to start the third period, Edmonds got lucky when Justin Hickman rattled the crossbar with his shot but there was no luck involved for Edmonds a few second later when he robbed Keegan Kolsenar with a head save that literally unmasked the Cougar goalie.
Seattle improved to 24-13-2-3 on the season, 15 points ahead of the Cougars (16-23-2-4), who remained ninth in the West.
LOOSE PUCKS: The Cougars hit the road today for Vancouver, where they play the Giants Friday night. The Cats will face the Blazers in Kamloops Saturday... Wilson has played in all 44 games for the Cougars this season. He started his WHL career in Brandon and spent 3 1/2 seasons with the Edmonton Oil Kings before he was traded to Prince George at midseason last year. Wilson's line has generated 31 points in the last four games... Just 1,267 spectators showed up to watch Wednesday, after only 1,254 were there to witness the first game of the Seattle set on Tuesday. According to hockeyattendance.com, the Cougars rank last in the WHL, averaging 1,638 fans per game through 18 games, which is 28.3 per cent of capacity at CN Centre... The Cougars were without injured players F Brett Roulston (foot), F Alex Forsberg (concussion), F Jari Erricson (concussion), F Chase Witala (leg), D Tanner Lishchynsky (undetermined), D Peter Kosterman (broken jaw) and G Brett Zarowny (groin).
