Playing on home ice is supposed to be an advantage. That hasn't been the case for the Prince George Cougars lately.
The Cats fell 6-3 to the Portland Winterhawks Tuesday night at CN Centre and have now dropped the first three games of a four-game homestand. In the latest setback, the Cougars spotted the Winterhawks a 4-0 lead before they finally got on the board with a Taylor Stefishen goal in the third period. Stefishen fired a shot from the right side that appeared to deflect off Portland's Taylor Aronson before it beat goaltender Mac Carruth.
The Cougars thought they had a second goal later in the third but it was waved off by the on-ice officials, who said the puck didn't cross the goal line. That verdict was later confirmed by a video review.
Sven Bartschi added a goal for the visitors and Charles Inglis responded with a quick pair for the home side before Craig Cunningham hit an empty net for the Winterhawks to complete the scoring.
The Winterhawks, the top team in the WHL's Western Conference, got first-period goals from defenceman Troy Rutkowski and forward Ryan Johansen. In the middle frame, Johansen struck again, with his 32nd of the season. That goal came on a two-on-zero break for the Winterhawks, who caught the Cougars up-ice.
On a beautiful passing play, the Winterhawks went up 4-0 early in the third period, with Brendan Leipsic doing the finishing.
Ty Rimmer, who made several outstanding saves during the contest, took the loss.
The Winterhawks, who outshot the Cougars 39-35, improved to 40-16-0-3. The Cats, meanwhile, fell below the .500 mark (28-29-2-1) for the first time since Oct. 11. In the game, they went 0-for-6 on the power play.
The Cougars remained in sixth place in the Western Conference, tied in points with the Everett Silvertips, but the Silvertips now have a game in hand.
Attendance was announced at 1,623.
The Cougars and Winterhawks meet again tonight at 7 at CN Centre.
