Taylor Gauthier got a chance to play against his former team for the first time and he made the most of the opportunity.
The 20-year-old Gauthier was named the first star with 26 saves as the Portland Winterhawks beat the Prince George Cougars 4-1.
Tyler Brennan made 43 saves in the loss as the Winterhawks outshot the Cats 47-27 before 3,366 fans Friday night at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
The box score is right here.
Gauthier is now 6-0 in a Portland uniform since he was acquired in a trade with Prince George just after Christmas.
He played in 166 career regular season games with the Cougars over five seasons.
Riley Heidt gave the Cougars a short-lived 1-0 lead with his 11th goal of the season to extend his points streak to seven games.
The game was tied 1-1 after one and the (23-11-3-2) Winterhawks led 3-1 after two.
Just like coach drew it up!🔥🤤@pdxwinterhawks pic.twitter.com/nkCd4kMVUn
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 29, 2022
Portland has won five straight and has not lost in regulation time in its last 12 games going 11-0-0-1.
Prince George has lost its last three.
The Cougars had five players return from COVID-19 protocol. Connor Bowie, Carlin Dezainde, Fischer O’Brien, Jonny Hooker, and Hudson Thornton all returned to the lineup. Hooker left Friday’s game late in the second period with a lower body injury. Craig Armstrong did not dress. Prince George went with 11 forwards, seven defencemen.
It was the Cougars sixth consecutive loss in Portland dating back to 2017.
The (17-20-1-1) Cougars visit the (28-7-2-2) Everett Silvertips tonight at 6:00.
Prince George is 3rd in the B.C. Division and 6th in the Western Conference, two points ahead of the (16-19-2) Vancouver Giants.
GAME SUMMARY
Scoring
Cougars: Riley Heidt
Winterhawks: Aidan Litke, Clay Hanus, Luke Schelter, Jack O’Brien
Goaltending
Cougars: Tyler Brennan (L), 60:00, 43 saves, 47 shots
Winterhawks: Taylor Gauthier (W), 60:00, 26 saves, 27 shots
Shots
Cougars: 27
Winterhawks: 47Â Â
Power-Play
Cougars: 0/3
Winterhawks: 1/4
Three Stars: (All from Portland) 1) Taylor Gauthier 2) Luke Schelter 3) Jack O’Brien
Fun Friday! Next up, Super Saturday! #WHLScores pic.twitter.com/UmIIpSlgJw
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 29, 2022
The WHL standings are right here.
The PG Cougars regular season schedule is right here.
Cat Scan podcast:
CAT SCAN: @Hartley_Miller chats with @PGCougars Head Coach and GM Mark Lam on this week’s episode | https://t.co/DkoWCPOuVT #cityofpg #PrinceGeorge #northernbc pic.twitter.com/B8uj9sVRea
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) January 27, 2022
Column:
HART ATTACK: @Hartley_Miller talks about the @PGCougars facing off against @tgoats_35 and the @pdxwinterhawks to kick off US road trip | https://t.co/9omjbCpewq #CityofPG #PrinceGeorge #northernbc pic.twitter.com/BnESCqgxVH
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) January 28, 2022
With files from Fraser Rodgers
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