Jarrett Fontaine and the Prince George Cougars are determined to salvage their season and put an end to their downward spiral.
"Confidence is low but we've got to find a way to spark ourselves and get back on the right track," said the 17-year-old after the Cougars blew a third-period lead Saturday, allowing two goals in about a minute to fall 4-3 to the Victoria Royals in Western Hockey League action at CN Centre.
The loss was the Cougars (9-14-1-3) third straight to their B.C. division rival. The Royals (15-12-0-1) returned to Vancouver Island with a sweep of the weekend doubleheader having shutout the Cougars 2-0 on Friday.
After posting a 2-6-0-3 record in November the Cats will look to rectify their 0-1 December record when they host the Moose Jaw Warriors (11-12-3-4) on Tuesday night.
The Royals opened up a 2-0 lead on the Cougars in the first period Saturday but the home side rebounded in front of the announced crowd of 1,651 to tie the game at 2-2 after 20 minutes.
Jamie Crooks and Austin Carroll gave the Royals the lead but Daulton Siwak and Ryan Hanes brought the Cougars back to even terms. Marc McNulty gave the Cougars a 3-2 lead in the second frame which saw the home team dominate the game out shooting the Royals 17-4.
But Mitch Deacon and Brett Cote scored 59 seconds apart for the Royals to ice the Cats just past the midway point of the third period.
Fontaine said the Cougars went into a defensive shell in the final period.
"We kind of panicked a little bit and were trying to play defensively instead of keeping to what we were doing and that hurt us in the en," said Fontaine. "We were just trying to protect the lead."
Cougars head coach Dean Clark said the defensive core didn't do it's job, allowing opposition players to get behind them on the first and third goals. Dallas Ehrhardt and Raymond Grewal were burnt on Crooks' and Deacon's goals respectively.
"Those are plays that our defencemen have to make," said Clark.
The Cougars out shot the Royals in both games 30-28 on Friday and 37-26 on the second night but Victoria took better advantage of their opportunities.
"It's very disheartening," said Clark, adding the second period was probably the Cats best all season. "In both games we probably out chanced them but we're not as opportunistic and we made some mistakes on five-on-three goals that the referees deemed against us this weekend too that hurt us, but the mistakes with the guys getting behind our defencemen that just can't happen.
"We can't give up those opportunities that's hurting us right now," he added. "In both games the other team gets 2-0 leads in our building and that just can't happen."
Siwak sensational
If Daulton Siwak could play with the intensity and drive he displayed Saturday all the time he could be looking at a 30-goal season.
The 19-year-old finished the night with a goal, two assists and several hits including a perfect shoulder check in front of the Royals' bench on Logan Nelson that sent the Victoria player's helmet flying.
Siwak's sixth goal of the season was the Cougars first shorthanded marker this year. He showed grit and determination after getting knocked down by a Royals player in the face-off circle, pulled himself to his feet, protected the puck and went around Victoria goalie Patrik Polivka and slid the puck into the open side.
"He had a better game which is what he needed to do," said Clark. "Salty's had a little bit of a tough go and was a little frustrated but I think tonight with the goal and a couple assists will lead to bigger and better things and more consistency.
Siwak skated on a line with Alex Forsberg and Ryan Hanes due to his regular centre, Colin Jacobs, sitting out with a suspension from a check to the head penalty he took Friday.
Clark said he has a phone meeting scheduled for today with Jacobs and the league to determine the length of the suspension.
Lishchynsky shines
With eight defencemen on the Cougars roster Tanner Lishchynsky played at forward in both games versus the Royals, lining up next to Zach Pochiro and Brett Roulstone on Saturday.
"All it is effort and honest hard work," said Clark. "He might've been one of our best forwards tonight that's why he was out there with [Cougars goalie Mac Engel] out. I knew he'd go right to the guy and sure enough he finished the check and we were able to keep the puck in. He's just one of those guys that's a heart and soul guy and gets rewarded because he's playing hard."
Lack of power
The Cougars were 0-for-8 in both games combined on the power play against the Royals including a four-minute double minor in the second period Saturday to the Royals Brandon Magee.
"Our power play was probably the reason we didn't get it to a two-goal lead when we needed to," said Clark.
Cougars scratches
In addition to Jacobs, the Cougars were without forwards Brock Hirsche (shoulder, long term), Troy Bourke (shoulder, day-to-day) and Chase Witala (healthy). Defenceman Joseph Carvalho was also a healthy scratch after a warm-up decision between him and McNulty.
Clark said he's hopeful the Cougars will have Bourke back for Tuesday's game against Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.
