For the second game in a row, the Prince George Cougars came out flatter than a pancake.
Despite a stellar 43-save performance from Tyler Brennan, the Cougars were unable to rise to the occasion falling 1-0 in a shootout to the Vancouver Giants in Kamloops on Easter Sunday.
The contest resembled more of a half-court basketball game, where Brennan and his teammates were under siege for 65 consecutive minutes getting outshot 43-14 in the process.
Standing on his head, @tyler_brennan70 stopped 43 shots, earned his first career shutout & #REMAXHub Highlight of the Night for the @PGCougars! #WHLHoN pic.twitter.com/uwMc0DpuR8
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 5, 2021
During a post-game Zoom call, Cougars Head Coach and General Manager Mark Lamb told the media it’s tough to waste such a stellar performance between the pipes.
“He got us a point (Brennan) so I am happy with that but after that we looked sluggish – the simple plays weren’t there and when you are sluggish mentally you have a lot of guys who are very under par.”
While the Cougars drop to 1-2-0-1 on the hub-season, Lamb acknowledged his young roster is experiencing some growing pains but admits that’s not his biggest problem.
“It has a lot to do with learning, it has a lot to do with the league. We have a lot of really good young players who are getting to see first hand how hard it is. I’m not too worried about some of our young guys, it’s some of our older guys, that is very concerning.”
During the halfway point of the first period, the Cougars were unable to cash in on a lengthy 5-on-3 man advantage after Mazden Leslie and Nicco Cammazolla took a pair of minors for the Giants.
On the flip side, Vancouver couldn’t solve Brennan on six power-plays, including a stretch of three straight between the second and third periods.
Tristen Nielsen’s goal during round three of the shootout slipped past the blocker side of Brennan and into the net to secure the victory for the Giants who improved to 3-1.
Nieler was the only guy in the building to beat a goalie tonight! pic.twitter.com/ASR30wbgBY
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) April 5, 2021
“It’s a little disappointing, I played as hard as I could and it’s the little things that we need to touch up on as a team to get the win the next game,” added Brennan.
Both Brennan and Giants netminder Trent Miner registered shutouts – although Miner didn’t have to quite work as hard, only stopping 13 shots.
Lamb wouldn’t name Brennan the number one goalie over incumbent Taylor Gauthier – even though the numbers suggest otherwise.
In two starts against the Kamloops Blazers, Gauthier has posted an 0-2 record coupled with a 5.57 goals against average as well as a save percentage of .851.
Brennan on the other hand, currently sports a 1-0-0-1 mark with a .960 save percentage along with a 1.44 goals against average.
#WHLThreeStars ⭐⭐⭐
April 4, 2021 pic.twitter.com/3cwdfKUwqJ— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 5, 2021
The 17-year-old was named to Canada’s roster for the World U-18 Men’s Hockey Championship taking place in Texas from April 26th to May 6th.
The Cougars are off until Tuesday as they look to rebound against the Victoria Royals (0-3-0-1).
Puck drop is at 7pm from Sandman Centre and you can catch all the action on 94.3 The Goat with Fraser Rodgers.