Play with fire and you're liable to get burned, as the Prince George Cougars were rudely reminded Friday night.
They gave the potent Portland Winterhawks' power play a few too many chances to score and that proved their downfall in a 3-2 decision at CN Centre.
All three Portland goals came with Cougars locked in the penalty box and that made all the difference in an otherwise well-played game for the struggling Cats.
Portland right winger Joachim Blichfeld padded his lead in the WHL scoring race. The talented Dane was in on all three of his team's scoring plays with a goal and two assists, raising his season point total to 110.
Jake Gricius and Josh Paterson also scored for Portland. Cole Moberg and Matej Toman were the Cougars' marksmen.
Joel Hofer made 40 saves in the Portland nets for his 14th win of the season. The 18-year-old St. Louis Blues draft pick sent the Cougars to their sixth-straight loss since ending a 17-game losing streak Feb. 22 in Kamloops. The Cats (17-40-5-3) haven't won a game on home ice since they beat Kelowna 4-0 on Jan. 12.
The Winterhawks (39-19-3-3) won for the third time in three games this season against the Cats. They remain solidly entrenched in second place in the U.S. Division.
Five-on-five, the Cougars were the better team. They outshot Portland 42-27, but gave Portland too many opportunities after undisciplined penalties.
The Cougars' penalty-killers were called into action 13 minutes into the second period with six-foot-seven Mike MacLean's head hit in the Portland corner on Brendan De Jong. The Winterhawks went to work on the power play and Blichfeld patiently held the puck in the face-off circle and waited for a screen to form in front of goalie Taylor Gauthier. Gricius was in perfect position just outside the crease to take the rebound off the pad of Gauthier and tuck it into the open side.
The Cougars took an ill-advised penalty in the Portland end again early in the third period. Jackson Leppard was off for hooking when Blichfeld put a shot on goal that kicked high off the foot of Gauthier, and Paterson batted the puck in from just outside the crease to tie it up 2-2.
"When you take two offensive-zone penalties in the offensive zone - we just find ways," said Cougars GM and interim head coach Mark Lamb. "When you make mental mistakes like that against a real good offensive team that's going to happen. It hurts."
Portland went on the power play again 14 minutes into the third period when Toman got caught cross-checking and Blichfeld made them pay dearly with the game-winner at 14:51. The San Jose Sharks' draft pick took a cross-ice feed from Jared Freadrich and from the top of the face-off circle launched a rocket that sped in under the arm of Gauthier. It was Blichfeld's 53rd goal this season, tops in the WHL.
"I liked everything about the game except the penalties," said Lamb. "The Toman penalty was real soft but you put yourself in that position. The other two in the offensive zone, there's no need to do it."
Until Portland got on the scoreboard there was much to like about how the Cougars were handling one of the top teams in the league. They left the ice after the first period ahead 1-0 and fully deserved their lead. They outshot the Winterhawks 15-8 in the opening frame and outchanced them at least 3-1.
Cole Moberg, in his first game back after missing five games with an upper-body injury, hooked up with defence partner Ryan Schoettler for the opening goal on a Cougars' power play. He gave the puck to Schoettler just inside the blueline and swapped sides to take the return feed and his one-timer sailed high into the net for his 12th goal of the season.
Moberg, ranked 175th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's midterm report, had four assists in his previous four games.
The Cougars doubled their lead 2:29 into the second period, taking advantage of a turnover in the Portland end. Gricius misfired on his pass attempt to Clay Hanas and the puck caromed off the side boards to Josh Maser, who fed Toman on the left wing and his shot to the short side beat goalie Hofer.
LOOSE PUCKS: The same teams meet in the rematch tonight (7 p.m. start) at CN Centre... Attendance was announced at 3,391... Before the game the Cougars presented Maser with a $600 gift certificate as the Jim's Clothes Closet player of the month for February. He came into Friday's game with eight goals in his last 10 games... Left without the services of centres Ethan Brown (concussion), Brendan Boyle (sick) and Ilijah Colina (returned home for personal reasons), the Cougars have added 19-year-old pivot Liam Ryan to the roster. Ryan collected five goals and nine points in 22 games this season in the BCHL with the Surrey Eagles, who did not make the playoffs... The Cougars are teaming up with the United Way of Prince George on a mega 50-50 draw during tonight's game. A payout of $15,000 is already guaranteed.
