The superstitiously terrifying Friday 13th gave the Prince George Cougars weak knees in not trying to become the first team to lose to Kamloops this season.
Unfortunately, they needed much more than the energy of 3,374 fans Friday, ultimately dropping the contest 4-1 on Mega Jackpot / Pink In The Rink night at the CN Centre.
FINAL: Ferguson shuts the door. Cougars keep knocking but can't get in. Rematch tomorrow at 7 PM. pic.twitter.com/RT9uG752dJ
— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) October 14, 2017
All but one of the Blazers’ goals got past netminder Tavin Grant on the power-play, with the fourth tally being an empty-netter in the final minutes of regulation.
“This game is usually won on the special teams’ side of the game,” said Prince George Head Coach Richard Matvichuk on 94.3 the GOAT’s post-game show.
“Our guys just learned a valuable lesson that ‘will before skill’ will beat you every single time. I’m not sure that team has as much skill as we do, but they outworked us tonight.”
The Cats’ top line went full throttle in the first half of the opening period, leading to Kody McDonald’s eighth goal in nine games, the lone goal on the sheet for the home team before giving up the other four.
Costly penalties across the full 60 minutes helped the Blazers capitalize in search of their first victory of the year; goal-scorers were Garrett Pilon, Connor Zary, Brodi Stuart, and Jermaine Loewen.
Cougars forward Brogan O’Brien says his team needs to get back to basics and not get easily frustrated.
“We just have to come out and work hard. Good teams have to learn to bury teams that are below us in the standings, especially teams that we should be beating. Our power-play didn’t help us and we definitely get enough pucks to the net, which we should be doing every night.”
Coach Matvichuk believes tonight’s rematch, and last of a five-game homestand, is now a must-win situation.
“The writing’s on the wall! I think this was a chance for us to move in our division, but we got to live and learn from that. We went through the same this last weekend with Kelowna where we got one point and then another point, so we’ll bring the work-ethic and if we do what we should be doing, the outcome will be different.”
The Cougars currently sit third in the BC Division standings, one point back of Kelowna for second place, with a record of 3-4-2.
They’ll battle Kamloops tonight to round out the weekend with a 7PM puck-drop.
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