If the Prince George Cougars want to return to the WHL playoffs, they’ll have to show they can take care of some of the league’s lesser teams first.
This was not the case on Tuesday, falling flat at home dropping a 7-2 decision to the Swift Current Broncos, a team that came in tied with PG and the Victoria Royals for the fewest goals scored this season (21).
Matthew Culling opened the scoring for Swift Current after tucking home a juicy rebound that was spit out by Cougars netminder Taylor Gauthier giving the Broncos a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period.
The game got away from the Cougars early in the second period allowing four goals in a span of five minutes to Hayden Ostir, Hendrik De Klirk, Aiden Bulych followed by a pair of tallies from Joona Kiviniemi who would later complete the hat-trick in the third period.
After the game, Cougars Associate Coach Jason Smith touched on the team’s poor showing in the middle frame.
“I think our attention to detail and our work ethic wasn’t smart enough and we probably didn’t focus on our structure out there. If you don’t play a complete game you will not have any luck.”
“I think we made some mistakes and I think there was a lack of compete by not playing with the detail and structure that you need, you have to focus and get back to playing the right way and we didn’t do that.”
The Cougars finally got on the board with a pair of tallies in the third period solving Broncos netminder Isaac Poulter courtesy of Reid Perepeluk and Filip Koffer.
Twenty-year-old defenceman Austin Crossley didn’t mince words about the Cougars performance admitting they may have taken the 3-6-1-2 Broncos too lightly.
“We weren’t ready to play right off the bat. We had an OK first and then in the second we seemed to give up, it’s poor leadership from us older guys and I don’t think anyone brought it tonight.”
“Mark (Lamb) told us all week not to take them lightly because these are the games that we often lose and sure enough that’s exactly what happened.”
.@Austin7Crossley talks with @mypgnow after @PGCougars fall 7-2 to @SCBroncos in @TheWHL action #cityofpg #sports #NorthernUprising pic.twitter.com/dAfBy9gOOX
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) October 23, 2019
Kiviniemi had a game-high four points and was named the game’s first star.
His Finnish teammate Kasper Puttio also had a solid outing on the back end for the Broncos recording three assists.
Puttio said it was important to finish their BC Division road swing on a high note after a couple of extra-time losses earlier to the Vancouver Giants (4-3 in a shootout) and Kelowna Rockets (3-2 in OT).
“It was our fifth game of the road trip and we were out of gas but we found a way to win and to keep our legs going.”
“It’s a nice win and the 15-hour bus ride won’t feel that long.”
.@SCBroncos blue liner Kasper Puttio discusses his three assist game after a 7-2 victory over @PGCougars in @TheWHL action @mypgnow #cityofpg #sports #NorthernUprising pic.twitter.com/Io8V2qBOLM
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) October 23, 2019
Broncos Head and GM Dean Brockman believed his team was overdue for a victory and finally got the puck luck to go with it.
“We did get a few bounces and the guys were shooting the puck and for us, we haven’t been getting a lot of bounces on this trip but we found some tonight.”
“For us, it’s a great way to finish off. You have to win on the road to win games in this league and this was a confidence builder for sure.”
Prince George outshot Swift Current 33-26 overall but went 0-4 on the power-play while Broncos went 2-for-4 on the man advantage.
The goaltending duo of Gauthier and Tyler Brennan came up flat allowing a combined seven goals.
It was the smallest crowd of the season for the Cougars with 1,732 fans coming through the doors.
A quick turnaround is in order for the Cats (3-7-0-1) who will battle the Memorial Cup host Kelowna Rockets (6-4-1-0) tomorrow night at 7:00 pm from CN Centre.
.@SCBroncos Head Coach and GM Dean Brockman speaks postgame with @mypgnow after 7-2 road win over @PGCougars at @CNCentre in @TheWHL action #cityofpg #sports #NorthernUprising pic.twitter.com/0sIDz07K6N
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) October 23, 2019