The Prince George Cougars are still in search of their first win after dropping a 2-1 decision to the Victoria Royals Friday at Save on Foods Memorial Centre.
Royals’ Swiss import forward Keanu Derungs broke a 1-1 deadlock five-minutes into the third period, scoring his first WHL goal and leading Victoria to its first win this season in its home opener.
Former Portland Winterhawk, Shane Farkas picked up his first victory with the Royals in his home debut before 5,697 fans, as the 20-year-old stopped 22 of 23 shots for the night.
Cougars’ Czech import, Matéj Toman, scored his first goal of the season early on in the second period to give the visitors their first lead of the season. Toman reached out and deflected Ryan Schoettler’s point-shot over the goaltender’s glove near the six-minute mark.
The home team roared back midway through period two, as it was Carson Miller scoring on a drop pass from Gary Haden to even the game up at 1-1 with just seven minutes left. Miller scored as time expired on a Royals’ power-play. The goal marked Victoria’s first of the season after being blanked by the Everett Silvertips 6-0 in their season opener.
Derungs’ game-winner in the third period was the result of a no-look pass from Brandon Cutler, which would actually go off the side of the net and out front to the Swiss rookie. Derungs quickly slammed the puck through the 5-hole of Taylor Gauthier.
Gauthier had his best outing of the young season, turning aside 33 of 35 shots, including 13 in the third period. His best save came near the midway mark of the middle stanza. With the Cougars holding onto a 1-0 lead, Gauthier sprawled across to get a pad on Gary Haden’s wraparound bid at the far post. Gauthier was named the game’s third star.
With the loss, the Cougars now sit with a 0-3-0-0 record while the Royals split their record 1-1-0-0.
Cole Moberg and Ilijah Colina did not play due to upper-body injuries.
The two teams meet again tonight (Saturday) in Victoria; puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
With files from Fraser Rodgers, Prince George Cougars