A Giant performance in net and a late game goal sent the Cougars back to Prince George empty-handed last night.
They fell 3-2 to the Vancouver Giants in front of 3019 fans, ending their five-game road trip 2-2-0-1.
Vancouver’s Logen Hammett scored the game-winner with just three and a half minutes left in the game, and a hooking penalty to Viliam Kmec a minute later put the Cougars shorthanded for all but the remainder of the contest.
The Cougars and Giants traded goals in the first two periods, Terik Parascak scored the Cougars’ first goal on the powerplay, bringing him to 30 on the season.
This ties him with Brett Connolly and Koehn Ziemmer for the most goals in a season by a Cougar rookie forward in franchise history, there are still 19 games left in the season.
This goal:
Ties Terik Parascak with Brett Connolly and Koehn Ziemmer for most goals by a rookie in a season in franchise history (30),
AND
Ties Hudson Thornton with Dan Hamhuis for most assists by a defenseman in franchise history (123). https://t.co/yrAnOwguci pic.twitter.com/fST3rtO6P5
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) February 3, 2024
Hudson Thornton had assists on both Cougar goals – he was the only multi-point player in the game – which puts him ahead of Dan Hamhuis for most assists by a defenseman in franchise history with 124.
He now has the most goals, assists, and points ever recorded by a Cougar blueliner.
With this goal, Hudson Thornton leads the Cougars in:
All time assists by a defenseman in franchise history,
All time goals by a defenseman in franchise history,
All time points by a defenseman in franchise history. https://t.co/k1aZuLZS5U pic.twitter.com/Pbumpph4M3— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) February 3, 2024
Brett Mirwald was the game’s third star, he made 36 saves on 38 shots for the Giants.
The Cougars were 1/4 on the powerplay and 2/2 penalty killing.
The loss saw the Cats fall to third place in the Western Conference, one point behind the Everett Silvertips (who have played two more games) and Portland Winterhawks (who have played two fewer games).
After losing to Kelowna earlier in the week, Portland pumped the Rockets 11-1 at home – Kelowna’s lone goal was the last one of the game which only served to ruin a shutout.
The Cougars did catch a break on the out of town scoreboard, the Spokane Chiefs beat the Silvertips 6-4 in Everett.
Prince George is still 8 points ahead of Wenatchee and Victoria in the west standings.
The Cougars were 24-9-0-0 before the Christmas break. Since returning, they have won as much as they have lost, with an 8-6-0-2 record.
They will look to bounce back with four games at home, starting with a matinee against the Kamloops Blazers tomorrow at 2:00.
Kamloops is the last place team in the WHL with a 14-28-3-2 record, but they are riding a four game win streak into the game.
You can find the game’s boxscore here.
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